Qatar’s national animal isn’t a camel or a falcon but an Oryx

A week in Qatar would be enough to see as many camels as you want, or a stroll around the Souq Wakif would be sufficient to catch sight of the infamous falcons.

However, did you know that the national animal of Qatar is neither the camel nor the falcon? Yes, it’s actually the Oryx!

Now that’s the reason for the Oryx sigil that Qatar Airways uses!

The Oryx or to be precise, the Arabian Oryx is a medium-sized antelope that’s native to the desert and steppe areas of the Arabian Peninsula.

Arabian Oryx generally rests during the heat of the day and can detect rainfall and move towards it, meaning they are able to cover long distances.

Another very interesting fact about the Oryx is the mythical animal “Unicorn” is loosely believed to be based on an Oryx.

Qatar has its very own Oryx called “Orry” who was the official games mascot for the 2006 Asian Games that were held in Doha. A statue of Orry could be seen at the Doha Corniche.

Also, Qatar isn’t the only country with Oryx as its national animal. Oman too has made the Oryx as its national animal.

Now, that’s one lucky animal, isn’t it?

Any thoughts? Don’t hesitate to comment below!