CONSERVATION OF ARABIAN GAZELLES - Nwrc.gov.sa

Introduction
Chris Magin
The presentations given in the Symposium "Establishing Priorities for the Conservation of
Gazelle in the Arabian Peninsula" synthesized existing scientific know ledge and addressed many key
issues in gazelle conservation and taxonomy. At the close of the Symposium, an Arabian Gazelle
Working Group discussed the current situation in the light of the presentations and produced a series
of guidelines and recommendations for the future successful conservation of gazelle in the Arabian
Peninsula.
Authors were asked to submit written versions of their oral presentations to the editors. After
the Symposium these were then peer-reviewed by two independent referees, and revised in the light
of referees' comments by the authors themselves before incorporation in these Proceedings.
Consequently some articles are slightly different from the presentations actually given at the
Symposium: in particular those on "Taxonomic Diversity in Arabian Gazelles: The State of the Art"
and "Measures to Conserve the Wildlife of Kuwait". All or parts of several articles have also been
published in scientific journals since the Symposium: for example the article on "Bilkis Gazelle in
Yemen - Status and Taxonomic Relationships" appeared in its entirety in Oryx (1993, Vol. 27(4):
239-244), and a modified version of the article on "Survey of Gazelle Populations in South-West
Saudi Arabia and Recommendations for their Conservation" appeared in Biological Conservation
(1994, Vol. 70: 69-75). In the interest of presenting as complete a record as possible of the
Symposium, such articles have been retained. It should be noted however that despite repeated
requests by the editors, written versions of two oral presentations given at the Symposium, on the
conservation of gazelle in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, were never received and are
therefore not included in these Proceedings.
Several major advances in gazelle conservation have occurred since the Symposium. Most
notable of these was the release in March 1995 of 100 Arabian sand gazelle Gazella subgutturosa
marica into the unfenced 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve (created in 1994) on the fringes of the Rub AJ­
Khali in the south of the Kingdom. Initial studies indicate that as of October 1995 the population was
flourishing. In the same month the reintroduced population of sand gazelle in the fenced Mahazat as­
Sayd reserve was estimated to number approximately 360 animals, with substantial scope for future
growth.
It is worth noting in passing that one problem alluded to by Williamson and Tatwany in their
article entitled "Gazelle Distribution and Status in the Arabian Peninsula" also appears to have been
resolved. Based on NCWCD rangers' reports, it was initially thought that the enigmatic "afri" or
Saudi dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas ssp. might occur in Harrat ai-Harrah and Al-Khunfah. However,
photographic evidence and direct observation have now confirmed that the suspected "Afri" are in
fact "idmi" or mountain gazelle Gazella gazella (Tim Wacher, pers. comm.).
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