Home / Environment / Conservationist Honored for Saving Rare Antelope from Extinction
Conservationist Honored for Saving Rare Antelope from Extinction
28 Aug
Summary
- Conservationist Dr. Tania Gilbert awarded for work with scimitar-horned oryx
- Species reintroduced to the wild after being extinct in the 1990s
- Collaborative conservation efforts led to species' status change from extinct to endangered
In a remarkable conservation success story, Dr. Tania Gilbert, a conservationist from Marwell Wildlife, has been honored with the Zoo and Aquarium Hero Award by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) for her outstanding contributions.
Dr. Gilbert has been working with Marwell Wildlife's conservation team since 2001 and currently serves as the head of conservation science. Her dedication and efforts have been instrumental in the remarkable comeback of the scimitar-horned oryx, a rare antelope species indigenous to North Africa.
The scimitar-horned oryx was completely wiped out from the wild by the 1990s due to factors such as overhunting, competition with livestock, and droughts. However, through global conservation initiatives, the species has been reintroduced to its natural habitat, and its conservation status has been upgraded from extinct in the wild to endangered.
Dr. Gilbert has been recognized for her pivotal role in this success story. She manages international projects, including the reintroduction of scimitar-horned oryx from zoos to their natural habitat in Tunisia. "It's the perfect example of what can be achieved when we all work together to save species," she said, expressing her gratitude for the prestigious award.
Marwell Wildlife's director of conservation, Dr. Philip Riordan, praised Dr. Gilbert's contributions, stating, "It is difficult to imagine that we would have succeeded in bringing the scimitar-horned oryx back from extinction without Tania's contributions."
