The status of Arabian Gazelles Gazella arabica (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve and Ras Ash Shajar Nature Reserve, Oman

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Published: Jul 26, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3398.9.7.10369-10373
Keywords:
Arabian Gazelles, distance sampling, Gazella arabica, Oman, zoogeography.

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Mansoor H. Al Jahdhami
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2076-8204
Sultan Al Bulushi
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4993-6865
Haitham Al Rawahi
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8387-5942
Waheed Al Fazari
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1266-3517
Ahmed Al Amri
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8100-3200
AbdulRahman Al Owaisi
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-2558
Salim Al Rubaiey
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6112-3595
Zahran Al Abdulasalam
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2996-8205
Metab Al Ghafri
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4918-1530
Shaeilendra Yadav
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1671-8263
Sami Al Rahbi
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5943-583X
Steven Ross
Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6534-7484

Abstract

We conducted distance sampling surveys of the Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica) in two protected areas, Al Wusta Wildife Reserve (WWR) and Ras Ash Shajar Nature Reserve (RSNR), regarded as important for gazelle conservation in northern and central Oman.  The survey in WWR estimated a gazelle density of 0.161 gazelles/km2 in the surveyed area, and in RSNR an estimated density of 25.8 gazelles/km2.  The density of Arabian Gazelle in RSNR is the highest recorded for a wild population.  Using gazelle sighting frequency in non-surveyed parts of each reserve, we estimate Arabian Gazelle populations of 498 and 505 in WWR and RSNR, respectively.  Our surveys demonstrated the potential for a high density of gazelles in well protected and productive habitats, but also that the Arabian Gazelle are in decline in WWR, most likely as a result of poaching and competition with domestic livestock. 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 9 No. 7 (2017)
Section
Communications

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Author Biographies

Mansoor H. Al Jahdhami, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Managing Director of Environmental Affaris

Sultan Al Bulushi, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Senior Wildlife Specialist.

Haitham Al Rawahi, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Wildlife Biologist.

Waheed Al Fazari, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Head of Wildlife Department.

Ahmed Al Amri, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Wildlife Biologist.

AbdulRahman Al Owaisi, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Wildlife Biologist.

Salim Al Rubaiey, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Director of Environmental Affairs in Salalah.

Zahran Al Abdulasalam, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Senior Wildlife Specialist.

Metab Al Ghafri, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Senior Wildlife Specialist.

Shaeilendra Yadav, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Animal Care Technician.

Sami Al Rahbi, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Wildlife Biologist.

Steven Ross, Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Oman.

Office for Conservation of the Environment, Wildlife Expert.

References

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