rsg_book_2013

Mammalsspecies in over twentyyears. After many years ofdedicated work to identifyand conserve differentspecies of gazelles inSaudi Arabia, it wassuccessfully released. Therelease is part of theongoing efforts in theKingdom to conserve avariety of antelopes, aninitiative that is stronglysupported by the Saudipeople.Goals Goal 1: To re-establishArabian gazelles release in MZT bywild and self-sustainingH. H. Prince Bander © D. Kiflepopulations of Arabiangazelle in Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area in Saudi Arabia. Goal 2: Manage the re-introduction of the herds in the protected areas. Goal 3: Re-introduce the animals in suitable habitats. Goal 4: Study the ecology and biology of the Arabian gazelle in protected area. Goal 5: Balance between grazing and browsing animals in Mahazat.Success indicators Indicator 1: Healthy breeding Arabian gazelle population in Mahazat as-SaydProtected Area. Indicator 2: The captive herd at KKWRC is maintained for re-introductionprograms for other protected areas. Indicator 3: The re-introduction of Arabian gazelle in Mahazat for more thantwo years, which now has a breeding population and considered to be a partialsuccess. Indicator 4: Productivity by wild Arabian gazelles high. Indicator 5: Society and government supports re-introduction and Mahazat hasbeen suggested for national and international tourists.Project SummaryFeasibility: Arabian Gazelles were previously occurred in Mahazat area (22°15'N - 41°40'E), which is tract of open desert steppe habitat of tropical and aridclimate with gentle topography in southwest of Saudi Arabia c.150 km northeastof Taif. Historically the species had been extirpated, primarily by excessivehunting. After the identification of the area as wildlife reserve it was fenced andproperly protected from livestock grazing, within a few years the recovery of thevegetation increased the chances of re-introduction of several species in thereserve as compared to areas outside the Reserve, which was overgrazed and175