Catastrophic die-off of globally threatened Arabian Oryx and Sand Gazelle in the fenced protected area of the arid central Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Catastrophic die-off of globally threatened Arabian Oryx and Sand Gazelle in the fenced protected area of the arid central Saudi Arabia.

Seasonal changes in group size and composition of Arabian sand gazelle Gazella subgutturosa marica Thomas, 1897 during a period of drought in central western Saudi Arabia

“…3.2 Seasonal changes in group size 3.2.1 Summer The decrease in mean group size (overall, mixed, nursery) and increased observations of single animals during summer, as well as the significant differences in group size between summer and all other seasons, suggest that group size is dependent on available food during summer (Cunningham, 2009). The higher rate of solitary males and females during summer is probably due to the below average rainfall experienced in Mahazat as-Sayd since 2006 (Ul- Islam et al, 2010). Such changes in group structure due to poor food availability conform to findings provided by Jarman (1974).…”

“…This is attributed to a biased pre-or post natal investment by the mother during suboptimal environmental conditions (Clutton-Brock et al, 1982). The almost total absence of sub-adults and juveniles is indicative of the overall poor environmental conditions (Ul- Islam et al, 2010) and consequently poor reproduction in G. s. marica during dry periods. A number of female carcasses carrying offspring were located during March and April 2008, indicating that conception occurred, but that pregnant females either aborted, that juveniles succumbed shortly after birth, or that the pregnant females died due to a lack of food (Cunningham, 2009).…”

“…Fewer sub-adults observed during summer (approximately six months after the expected lambing season in March) was probably due to the difficulty in distinguishing sub-adult animals from adults in the field as shoulder heights and body appearance are similar at this developmental stage (Cunningham and Sandouka, submitted). Little or no recruitment into this sub-adult category is probably the result of mortalities associated with the poor environmental conditions during the spring of 2008 (Ul- Islam et al, 2010).…”

“…G. s. marica is confined to the Arabian Peninsula (Thouless et al, 1991, Massolo et al, 2008) and classified as "vulnerable" (VU 2ad) (IUCN, 2008) and "endangered" by Flamand (1995 1 ) with 35% of the global population in Saudi Arabia (Dunham et al, 2001). Mass mortalities occur regularly due to forage shortages in the fenced Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area (Ul- Islam et al, 2010) making it important to understand this species and improve management. Although Saudi Arabia contains the world's largest population of captive G. s. marica (Dunham et al, 2001), the overall decline of free ranging animals is of concern (Cunningham and Wacher, 2009).…”

Recovery of Ungulate Populations in Post-Civil War Akagera National Park, Rwanda

“…The small size of modern Akagera NP, especially after the park was fenced in 2013 (1120 km²; RDB, 2013), highlights the need for continuous monitoring of ungulate populations in the park. Fencing national parks has become a widespread practice to reduce human-wildlife conflict, but inevitably creates problems for some large mammal species (Boone & Hobbs, 2004;Islam et al, 2009;Ferguson & Hanks, 2010). Fences prevent dispersal and, therefore, can lead to overstocking, especially if large predators are absent (Goodman, 2003).…”