Animals of the Gulf region

The Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) - once roamed the entire Arabian Peninsula and became extinct as a wild species in the early 1960s. However, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan had a few captive animals that bred well, and today there are several herds at various locations in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. They are the largest of the Arabian antelopes and are creatures of the open desert being able to live in areas without trees or standing water. (Getty Images)