Early in 2002, a small herd of captive bred Arabian Oryx are transported to a special enclosure in Wadi Rum, as part of a long term plan to release them into the protected area. Oryx are known from living memory to have roamed throughout the area and they are depicted in ancient rock drawings. This release programme is the first attempt to release them to their native habitat in Jordan, after they became extinct as a result of excessive hunting. If the programme is successful visitors may be lucky enough to see wild Oryx back among the wide sandy valleys of Wadi Rum. In the meantime you can make arrangements to visit the Oryx enclosure through the visitor centre (numbers allowed are limited).