CONSERVATION OF ARABIAN GAZELLES - Nwrc.gov.sa

Sony IPS-360 Global Positioning System), habitat type and condition, and estimated di stance to the
nearest habitation. Full details of standardized observation fonns and interview questionnaires are
given in Magin and Greth (1992).
In regions where gazelle spoor was found at relatively low densities every sign (tracks and
faecal pellet groups) was recorded. At higher densities tracks were ignored, except where they
provided evidence that gazelles used areas where no faeces were found . Where gazelle spoor was
very abundant (for example in the TarruJrix woodland at Mahkshush), only those signs which helped
to delimit the range of the gazelle were recorded. Observations of other fauna of significant
conservation interest (e.g. wolf Canis lupus, striped hyaena Hyaena hyaena) were also noted.
Counts of gazelle faecal pellet groups were used as an index to compare gazelle density in
different areas. Gazelle population sizes were "guesstimated" from a combination of interviews with
local people, subjective comparisons between areas and estimates of the total gazelle range in each
area.
Results
During the first five months (August - December (992) of the survey, 19 different areas from which
gazelle were reported or suspected were visited (see Figure 14.1). Evidence of the continued
presence of gazelle was found at 10 of these locations. In eight of the remaining areas it appeared
that gazelle had become locally extinct since the last report or visit by NCWCD biOlogists, while in
one, (Musfirah) because of a possible confusion between gazelle and Nubian ibex Capra ibex
nubian a it could not be determined whether gazelle had ever been present in the recent past (Table
14.1).
Ninety seven gazelle observations were made, of which 10 were actual sightings. A total of
17 gazelle were seen, of which nine were seen by the author (seven corroborated by other witnesses
i.e. Arnaud Greth, Nigel Brown and Bachar AI Abed) and eight by other members of the survey team
(five by Abdullah Mutairi and three by Kevin Dunham and Faye Robin son together). Group size
ranged from one to three (mean = 1.7, SD = 0.7). All observers considered that the gazelles seen
were G. g. cora.
Most of the gazelle populations inhabited watershed areas of rocky hills dissected by small
wadis, in which there were no through routes and little human habitation. With the notable exception
of Mahkshush the vegetation was remarkably similar in most areas. Typical tree species included
Acacia torti/is, Acacia ehrenbergiana and Lycium shawii, while ground cover consisted mainly of
B/epharis ci/iaris, Indigofe ra spinosa, Tribu/us, Fagonia and Heliotropium spp., with the grasses
Aristida and Stipagrostis spp. At altitudes over approximately 1,000 m the woody species Acacia
azak was found, while at lower elevations Commiphora spp. were common. All gazelle habitats
examined shared the characteristic of being difficult terrain for motor vehicles, where off-road
driving would be tortuously slow. and were accessible only by a limited number of tracks.
Conservation assessments of the 10 areas where the presence of gazelle was confinned are
given below.
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