Animals

Oryx
These large African antelopes prefer dry, near-desert conditions and can survive without water for long periods. The smallest species, the Arabian oryx, is now almost extinct, and another, the scimitar-horned oryx of the Sahara is on the endangered list. Oryxes live in herds of up to 60 animals. Newborn calves are able to run with the herd immediately after birth. Both males and females possess permanent, narrow, straight horns. The female’s are slightly longer and slimmer than the male’s. These horns are quite lethal, and the oryx has been known to kill lions with them. They are also the reason this animal is sometimes called the sabre antelope.

Ostrich

Of the 8,600 bird species which exist today, the ostrich is the largest. They are still found in the wild in certain parts of Africa, and are very well adapted to desert life, getting water from the plants they eat.
These huge birds, which sometimes reach a height of 2.6 m and a weight of 135 kg, cannot fly, but are very fast runners. Their small, flat heads and long necks are downy and their plump bodies are covered with soft feathers. The male’s body plumage is glossy black, and the wings and tail feathers are white.
The females and young males are greyish brown. If threatened while sitting on the nest, which is simply a cavity scooped in the earth, the hen presses her long neck flat along the ground, blending with the background. Ostriches, contrary to popular belief, do not bury their heads in the sand.
The male ostrich has from two to six females in his flock. The eggs each weigh about 1.5 kg. Ostriches have been raised in captivity as a source of food, and some people have even tried to ride them -- a risky business.