43706 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 142 / Thursday, July 24, 2003 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR antelope species are similar. dama gazelle, G. d. lozanoi and G. d. Desertification, coupled with severe mhorr, have been listed as endangered Fish and Wildlife Service droughts, has dramatically reduced under the ESA since 1970. A third available habitat. The growth of subspecies, G. d. ruficollis was not 50 CFR Part 17 permanent farming has brought included in this original listing. RIN 1018–AI82 additional pressures, such as human However, there is currently a taxonomic habitat disturbance and competition debate over the validity of G. d. lozanoi Endangered and Threatened Wildlife from domestic livestock, which have as a subspecies. and Plants; Endangered Status for restricted these antelopes to marginal Of the three antelope species, the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax, and habitat. Additional pressures from the scimitar-horned oryx was the most Dama Gazelle civil wars in Chad and the Sudan have susceptible to the threats it faced. By the resulted in increased military activity, mid-1980s, it was estimated that only a AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, construction, and uncontrolled hunting. few hundred were left in the wild, with Interior. The range of the scimitar-horned oryx the only viable populations known to be ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of in North Africa once covered semi- in Chad. There have been no reported comment period. deserts and steppes north of the Sahara, sightings of this species in the wild from Morocco to Egypt. Over-hunting since the late 1980s, and the 2002 Red SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and and habitat loss have been the main List status of the scimitar-horned oryx is Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reasons for the decline of the wild ‘‘extinct in the wild’’ (IUCN 2002). re-opening of the comment period on population of this antelope according to However, this antelope has been the proposed listing of three species of the World Conservation Union (IUCN reintroduced into Tunisia, and once the antelope: scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx 2002). Competition with domestic reintroduced population breeds, dammah), addax (Addax livestock has also contributed to the especially to the second generation, it is nasomaculatus), and dama gazelle species’ decline. During the 1970s and anticipated that the status of ‘‘extinct in (Gazella dama), as endangered under 1980s, the scimitar-horned oryx was the wild’’ will change. the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of first classified as vulnerable and then as The addax is better able to utilize 1973, as amended. We are re-opening endangered by the IUCN. In 1975, the waterless areas in the heart of the the comment period to request scimitar-horned oryx was listed in Sahara Desert and is less susceptible to additional information and comments Appendix II of the Convention on human disturbance and livestock from the public regarding the proposed International Trade in Endangered competition. It is believed that the rule. The original proposed rule was Species of Wild Fauna and Flora addax was extirpated from Tunisia published on November 5, 1991 (56 FR (CITES). 56491). Comments previously submitted The addax once occurred throughout during the 1930s, and the last animals need not be resubmitted because they the deserts and sub-deserts of North were killed in Libya and Algeria in 1966 will be incorporated into the public Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean to the and 1970, respectively. Remnant record as part of this comment period Nile River. Motorized illegal hunting populations may still exist in the remote and will be fully considered in the final following World War II has been noted desert areas of Chad, Niger, and Mali, determination. as the primary reason for decline of the and occasionally move north into Libya and Algeria during times of good DATES: We will accept public comments addax (Antelope Taxon Advisory Group rainfall. In the Antelope Specialist until October 22, 2003. 2002), and hunting continues to Group’s Global Survey of Antelopes, the ADDRESSES: Submit any comments, threaten this species (IUCN 2002). Habitat degradation as a result of addax is considered to be ‘‘regionally information, and questions by mail to extinct’’ (Mallon and Kingwood 2001). the Chief, Division of Scientific overgrazing by domestic livestock has also played an important role in the Addax are listed as critically Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife endangered in the 2002 Red List and Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room decline of the addax. Similar to the scimitar-horned oryx, during the 1970s probably number fewer than 250 in the 750, Arlington, VA 22203; or by fax to wild. 703–358–2276; or by e-mail to and 1980s, the addax was first classified as vulnerable and then as endangered by The dama gazelle is able to utilize [email protected]. Comments both semi-desert and desert habitats, and supporting information will be the IUCN. In 1975, the addax was also listed in Appendix II of CITES. and is smaller than either the oryx or available for public inspection, by The dama gazelle, the largest of the addax. Although the dama gazelle is the appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at gazelles, was once common and least susceptible of these three antelopes the above address. You may also obtain widespread in arid and semi-arid to pressures from humans and domestic copies of the November 5, 1991, regions of the Sahara. It has suffered livestock, it is estimated that only small proposed rule from the above address. greatly from uncontrolled hunting and numbers survive in most of the eight FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: overgrazing by domestic livestock countries within its historical range. It Eleanora Babij at the above address, or (Mallon and Kingwood 2001). Habitat was previously extinct in Senegal, but by phone, 703–358–1708; fax, 703–358– destruction and hunting are still the has since been reintroduced, and in 2276; or e-mail, most serious threats facing dama 1997, at least 25 animals existed there [email protected]. gazelles today (Antelope Taxon as part of a semi-captive breeding SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Advisory Group 2002; IUCN 2002). Two program (IUCN 2002). The IUCN lists all subspecies of the dama gazelle, Gazella forms of dama gazelles as endangered. Background dama lozanoi and Gazella dama mhorr, The dama gazelle has declined rapidly The scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx were designated as endangered, and over the last 20 years, and recent dammah), addax (Addax then the entire species of G. dama was estimates show numbers fewer than nasomaculatus), and dama gazelle designated by the IUCN as vulnerable 2,500 and declining (Mallon and (Gazella dama) originally occupied the and then endangered. In 1983, these two Kingwood 2001). G. d. mhorr may be same general region of North Africa. The subspecies and G. dama were listed in extinct in the wild and only found in reasons for the decline of all three CITES Appendix I. Two subspecies of captive collections or reintroduced VerDate Jan<31>2003 15:54 Jul 23, 2003 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\24JYP1.SGM 24JYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 142 / Thursday, July 24, 2003 / Proposed Rules 43707 populations (Antelope Taxon Advisory Our practice is to make comments, American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Group 2002; IUCN 2002). including names and home addresses of Downloaded from http://www.csew.com/ respondents, available for public review antelopetag. Public Comments Solicited during regular business hours. Any Antelope Taxon Advisory Group. 2002. Scimitar-Horned Oryx Fact Sheet. We will accept written comments and person commenting may request that we American Zoo and Aquarium Association. information during this re-opened withhold their home address, which we Downloaded from http://www.csew.com/ comment period from the public, other will honor to the extent allowable by antelopetag. concerned governmental agencies, the law. In some circumstances, we may International Union for Conservation of scientific community, industry, or any also withhold a commenter’s identity, as Nature and Natural Resources. 2002. 2002 other interested party. Comments allowable by law. If you wish us to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. particularly are sought concerning; withhold your name or address, you Downloaded from http://www.iucn.org. Mallon, D.P., and S.C. Kingwood (1) Biological, commercial trade, or must state this request prominently at the beginning of your comment. (Compilers). 2001. Antelopes. Part 4: North other relevant data concerning any Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Global threat (or lack thereof) to the scimitar- However, we will not consider Survey and Regional Action Plans. SSC horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle; anonymous comments. To the extent Antelope Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, (2) Additional information concerning consistent with applicable law, we will Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Viii + 260 the range, distribution, and population make all submissions from pp. size of the scimitar-horned oryx, addax, organizations or businesses, and from Metzler, S. 2000. Addra Gazelle North and dama gazelle; individuals identifying themselves as American Regional Studbook 1999 Update. representatives or officials of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (3) Current planned activities in the organizations or businesses, available species’ range and their possible for public inspection in their entirety. Author impacts on the scimitar-horned oryx, Comments and materials received will addax, and dama gazelle; The primary author of this notice is be available for public inspection, by Eleanora Babij, Division of Scientific (4) Information on the validity of G. appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife d. lozanoi as a subspecies; the Division of Scientific Authority (see Service (see ADDRESSES section). (5) Alternatives to the treatment of ADDRESSES section). captive populations of scimitar-horned Authority: 16 U.S.C.