What is a season to an oryx? Movement rates identify three seasons for scimitar-horned oryx reintroduced into their native range

Captive-born oryx exhibited transitions in movement behavior aligned with regionally characteristic seasonal variation, a promising indicator for an ongoing reintroduction effort. Females 1-4 months pregnant, particularly those accompanied by neonates, exhibited consistently elevated daytime movement rates, suggesting substantial energy allocation to foraging in early pregnancy. The three seasons delineated by this study will be used to manage the reintroduced oryx population, for example to identify priority areas and time periods for enhanced monitoring and enforcement actions, as well as to investigate the potential re-emergence of historical seasonal migrations.