Reintroduction of Arabian sand gazelle Gazella subgutturosa marica in Saudi Arabia

The distribution of sand gazelles Gazella subgutturosa marica in Saudi Arabia has declined dramatically during recent decades, apparently due to excessive hunting and habitat degradation. Today, sand gazelles survive only in small numbers in a few isolated parts of their former range. The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development has instituted a conservation programme for sand gazelles that includes captive breeding, habitat protection and reintroduction. The first reintroductions of captive-bred individuals began at Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area in February 1990. By June 1993, 135 gazelles had been translocated to Mahazat as-Sayd. No mortality occurred during translocations, but 25 (15%) of the translocated gazelles died in pre-release enclosures, 12 within 2 weeks of translocation. Twelve gazelles, which exhibited a Robertsonian translocation, were transferred to the National Wildlife Research Center in Taif. Seventy-five calves were born in the pre-release enclosure, where neonate mortality was 14%. Up till December 1994, 164 gazelles have been released into the Reserve, 108 births and 11 mortalities have been confirmed in the wild, and the population is estimated at c. 300 individuals.