Scimitar-Horned Oryx

Oryx dammah

Meet the scimitar-horned oryx

Scimitar-horned oryx are a striking antelope species, recognised by their pale coats, reddish-brown necks, tufted tails and iconic curved horns. The species takes its name from the scimitar, a sword with a curved blade that reflects the distinctive shape of the oryx’s horns.

Once declared extinct in the wild in 2000, scimitar-horned oryx survived only in captivity until global conservation efforts made it possible to reintroduce herds to their native southern Sahara in 2017. You can spot our own herd on the Drive-Through Safari.

A mythical connection

Many legends try to explain where unicorns came from and the scimitar-horned oryx is often part of that story. This real antelope has long, elegant horns, and when one horn was hidden from view or missing, it could appear to have just a single horn. Early sightings like these may have inspired stories of unicorns. The oryx’s striking shape and graceful horns likely helped bring the unicorn legend to life.