Why do oryx live in New Mexico?

To reduce the impact this animal has on the White Sands National Monument ecosystem, certain measures have been implemented to keep oryx out the monument. Native to the Kalahari Desert, the African oryx, or gemsbok (Oryx gazella), is a large antelope that now lives in southern New Mexico. read more

The oryx was introduced to the White Sands Missile Range area of New Mexico in 1969 as part of an incentive by the New Mexico State Department of Game and Fish to increase tourism via providing big game hunters an opportunity to come to this state to hunt big game instead of going all the way to Africa for the opportunity to do so. read more

The scimitar oryx, which is now listed as Extinct in the Wild, also relies on a captive breeding program for its survival. Small populations of several oryx species, such as the scimitar oryx, exist in Texas and New Mexico (USA) in wild game ranches. read more