One of those things you never think you will see? Three of these:
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randomly grazing on the top of a mesa rise by the highway in-between Cuba, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
And yet...
I did.
Of course, no one saw them but I, probably due to the fact that I was so taken aback that I could not clearly enunciate what I wanted her to look for. I still think she is a bit unsure of my mental strength. However, in my defense, they were clearly outlined against the sky, kind of like this:
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so the likelihood of my having been mistaken is actually really close to nil. There were three, one was larger and had much longer horns,with the very straight backward slight angle. The others were smaller, with thinner horns, more of a curve to them. I am assuming it was a male and two females, though I only saw them for about a minute.
It took a lot of research to make sure I was not losing what bit of control I have up there in my tiny brain, and yet, 'tis a fact. The African Oryx, or Gemsbok. They are really kind of neat looking, and I've been keeping an eye out every time we pass that area, but have yet to see any more. Or to get any pictorial proof.
But I will persevere!
~~~~~
For those who choose to believe I am clinically insane:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemsbok
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/naturescience/oryx.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryx
.jpg)
randomly grazing on the top of a mesa rise by the highway in-between Cuba, NM and Albuquerque, NM.
And yet...
I did.
Of course, no one saw them but I, probably due to the fact that I was so taken aback that I could not clearly enunciate what I wanted her to look for. I still think she is a bit unsure of my mental strength. However, in my defense, they were clearly outlined against the sky, kind of like this:
.jpg)
so the likelihood of my having been mistaken is actually really close to nil. There were three, one was larger and had much longer horns,with the very straight backward slight angle. The others were smaller, with thinner horns, more of a curve to them. I am assuming it was a male and two females, though I only saw them for about a minute.
But I will persevere!
~~~~~
For those who choose to believe I am clinically insane:
- In 1969, the New Mexico State Department of Game and Fish decided to introduce gemsbok to the Tularosa Basin in the United States. The introduction was a compromise between those who wanted to preserve nature and those who wanted to use it for profit and promotion. Ninety-three were released from 1969 to 1977, with the current population estimated to be around 3,000 specimens. The reason they thrived is because their natural predators, including the lion, are not present.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemsbok
- The Oryx - This African antelope was introduced to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The oryx was brought from the Kalahari Desert in Africa to an experimental range at Red Rock New Mexico. Federal law prohibits introducing a wild animal from another country into the wild in this country so offspring were obtained at this experimental range to introduce onto the White Sands Missile Range.
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/naturescience/oryx.htm
- Small populations of several oryx species, such as the Scimitar Oryx, exist in Texas and New Mexico (USA) in wild game ranches. Gemsboks were released at the White Sands Missile Range and have become an invasive species of concern at the adjacent White Sands National Monument.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryx
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