About:
Did you know the body temperature of a fringe-eared oryx can safely rise to 115 degrees Fahrenheit to cope with desert heat? Learn more about the fringe-eared oryx.
Care & Wellness:
The keepers need to ensure the antelope get the grains they need for a healthy diet. To keep the rhinos from muscling in on all of the grain, the Zoo’s exhibit design team worked with keepers to create feeders the rhinos could not get their head in. These feeders are designed to blend into the habitat and resemble termite mounds found in African grasslands.
Behavior:
- Herds are dominated by an alpha female (often at the front of the group) and alpha male (often at the rear).
- Oryx tend to run when threatened, but will turn and fight if cornered or defending young.
- With long sharp horns, they have been known to kill lions.
Endangered Status
- Extinct in Wild (EW)
- Critically Endangered (CR)
- Endangered (EN)
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Near Threatened (NT)
- Least Concern (LC)
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Fun Facts:
- Females are a bit smaller than males.
- Horns of males may reach four feet in length.
- These oryx are crepuscular, being more active at dawn and dusk to avoid the temperature extremes.
- Their body temperature can safely rise to 115 degrees Fahrenheit to cope with desert heat.
