1.
GV Herd of oryx along
0.06

2.
MV Sheikh Qasim
0.11

3.
LV Herd along
0.16

4.
MV Sheikh Qasim
0.19

5.
SV Herd
0.24

6.
SV Oryx
0.33

7.
MV Sheikh moves towards and follows herd
0.51



Initials GHB/VS/JF/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: One of the few remaining herds of the Arabian white oryx, one of the world's rarest animal and now almost extinct, has been preserved by Qatar's Director of Education, Sheikh Qasim bim Hamid al-Thani.

There are several species of oryx, but the very pale Arabian oryx which has straight horns, has been slowly dying out.

Now, due to the single minded efforts to Sheikh Qasim, brother of Qatar's Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Khalifa, a captive herd of these fine animals has been preserved.

Sheikh Qasim keeps the oryx at his estate at Azzubara, about 90 miles (145 kilometres) from Doha, capital of Qatar State.

No animal facing extinction in its natural surroundings had received more attention from conservationists than this elegant antelope with its milk-white coat and fine erect, rapier-like horns which romantics claims is the inspiration of the mythological unicorn.

Apart from a small herd which has been established at Phoenix Zoo, ??? Sheikh Qasim's are virtually the only specimens in captivity.

The Sheikh spent liberally from his personal fortune in his determination to preserve the herd, and personally led arduous expeditions into the heart of the desert to capture the oryx. At the last count his herd numbered nearly 30.