ISIS impact

black-footed ferret reintroduction

The North American black-footed ferret (Musteles nigripes) was thought to be extinct in the wild when a few surviving animals were unexpectedly found. Wyoming Game & Fish took the remaining species into captivity.

Wyoming Game & Fish, and then many zoos, used ISIS data to assist them in breeding hundreds of black-footed ferrets for release to the wild. This data is still used to continue to protect and nurture these rare animals.

saving the scimitar-horned oryx

The scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) is now thought to be extinct in the wild. It is believed that it was hunted to the brink of extinction for its magnificent curved horns, from which it gains its common name.

This species has been successfully bred in captivity. In 1985, five captive-bred pairs were reintroduced to Tunisia. By 1989, the herd had produced four wild-born calves. Individuals have also been introduced to Israel and recent reports of a sighting of four oryx in Niger are yet to be confirmed.

source: ARKive 2004, www.arkive.org