GDBphoto

Arabian Oryx

A desert icon. Shining like a pearl to the man of the sea. In an unforgiving environment, it is the symbol of life. Arabian oryx were trophy hunted to almost ex...
Read more

A desert icon. Shining like a pearl to the man of the sea. In an unforgiving environment, it is the symbol of life. Arabian oryx were trophy hunted to almost extinction and their re-introduction gives hope for a better future.
Rub-al’ Khali, the Empty Quarter, is the largest sand desert in the world, the size of France. In this vast expanse of deafening silence, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a wildlife oasis. From sandfish, dhub lizards, jerboas and houbara bustards to gazelles, sand foxes and sand cats, there is a whole specially adapted wildlife community out there.
In this image, a mother Arabian oryx looks back to the young calf following her over the dunes (the calf is visible in a consecutive image). The moment she turned her head I was offered a pose which highlighted her impressive horns.
The Arabian oryx’s mythical representations go beyond its depiction on currency and airline logos. In the mirage of deep thirst, blistering heat and blinding sandstorms, no wonder that the Arabian oryx has transmogrified into the Unicorn.
Read less