By the 1960s, the Arabian oryx faced a severe threat in the wild. Factors like climate change and frequent droughts likely contributed to its decline, along with capture for private collections, leading to its extinction in the wild. Fortunately, in 1962, a conservation initiative was launched to capture enough animals to start a captive breeding program aimed at reintroducing the species into their natural habitat.
According to a Discovery Wildlife article, within a year, breeding success was achieved at the Phoenix Zoo. Over time, the captive Arabian oryx population was shared with facilities such as the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas. According to the most recent assessment in 2016, there are approximately 1,200 Arabian oryx living in the wild, supported by a managed captive population estimated between 6,000 and 7,000 individuals, with some estimates suggesting even higher numbers.