KENANSVILLE, Fla. — The scimitar-horned oryx isn’t simply a beautiful animal to see during a trip through Wild Florida’s Drive-Thru Safari Park. Its story is also one of the animal world’s remarkable conservation comebacks.

With a mostly white coat and long, curved horns resembling the shape of a scimitar sword, the scimitar-horned oryx once roamed across large areas of North Africa.

Then it disappeared from the wild.

Habitat pressures, drought and hunting contributed to a devastating population decline, and the species was declared extinct in the wild around the beginning of the 21st century.

But its story didn’t end there.

Animals maintained under human care became critical to efforts to save the species. Conservation programs eventually made it possible to return scimitar-horned oryx to protected areas of their former range.

Following successful reintroduction efforts, the species’ conservation status improved — an extraordinary turnaround for an animal once considered gone from the wild.

Visitors can see the unmistakable oryx while traveling through Wild Florida Adventure Park’s 170-acre Drive-Thru Safari Park in Kenansville.

The four-mile safari allows guests to remain in their own vehicle while encountering some of the more than 150 exotic and native animals living throughout the park.

Along with the oryx, visitors may see giraffes, zebras, bison, wildebeest, Watusi cattle and other animals from around the world.

The experience can also be a reminder that wildlife parks and conservation programs can play important roles in education, awareness and efforts to protect species for future generations.

After the safari, families can continue exploring at Wild Florida’s Gator Park or climb aboard an airboat for an adventure through the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades.

Come see a beautiful animal with an even more remarkable survival story.

Wild Florida Adventure Park is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed Sundays. Reservations can be made Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wild Florida is located at 3301 Lake Cypress Road, Kenansville, FL 34739.

For reservations or additional information, call 407-957-3135 or toll-free at 866-532-7167, or email info@wildfl.com.

Guests can also book an airboat adventure through Wild Florida’s website.

Meet the scimitar-horned oryx and discover how every animal along Wild Florida’s safari has a story worth knowing.