16 June 2011: According to the latest update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) now has 1,000 individuals, and has moved from the Endangered category to Vulnerable, following captive breeding and re-introduction efforts.

The Arabian Oryx is a species of antelope found only on the Arabian Peninsula. This is the first time a species that was once extinct in the wild has improved by three Red List categories. According to Simon Stuart, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission, the key to halting the extinction crisis is to target efforts toward eradicating the major threats faced by species and their environments. [IUCN News]