©2017 IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group Citation: IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group. 2017. Antelopes of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Fact Sheet No. 1. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation Antelopes Marie Curie, 22. 29590 - Campanillas (Málaga) Spain uicnmed@ iucn.org | Tel +34 95 202 84 30 | Fax +34 95 202 81 45 www.iucn.org/mediterranean of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula FACT SHEET Nº 1 Gazella dorcas. Gazella cuvieri. Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Core support to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is provided by: Antelope Specialist Group Arabian Sand Gazelle – the reem Slender-horned Gazelle – Arabian Gazelle – Cuvier’s Gazelle – Arabian Oryx. Scimitar-horned Oryx. of the Arabian Peninsula. the reem of North Africa. the idmi of the Arabian Peninsula. the idmi of North Africa. Photo © David Mallon/ASG Photo © David Mallon/ASG Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Antelopes are among the regions, the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Arabia Emirates, dumani is often used instead of idmi. populations in their natural habitat provides the best-known animals of the and the Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) of But both these Arabian gazelles have always been best guarantee of long-term success. In situations North Africa, are distinctive and well known. entirely different to the ‘Edmi’ of North Africa. where species have become extinct in the wild, deserts of North Africa and or their ranges have been severely reduced, the Arabian Peninsula. These The smaller gazelle species are similar in Afri refers to the Saudi Gazelle (Gazella saudiya) reintroductions may be the only option. Several species have adapted to some appearance and they occupy similar habitats of the Arabian Peninsula, which is sadly now operations to reintroduce species to sites where of the most extreme desert in each region. Due to the shared history and extinct, and is also used in some places for they have disappeared have already taken place. language, some gazelles have the same common the Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas), which IUCN has published Guidelines on Reintroductions environments in the world names. Despite this, it is important to note that still occurs widely across North Africa. (2013) that should be followed in all cases. and they have always been these are in fact all different species and that celebrated for their grace and no species occurs in both these regions. The Arabian Oryx and Scimitar-horned Oryx In planning and implementing all these and future beauty in the art and poetry both became extinct in the wild. The Arabian projects, it is essential to keep in mind that the Reem is the name given to the gazelles inhabiting Oryx has since been reintroduced into several antelopes of North Africa and those of the Arabian of the region. Although well- dunes and sandy deserts, but the two types sites in the Arabian Peninsula and a project Peninsula are completely distinct and have evolved known in a general sense, close of gazelle called ‘Reem’ are different: Arabian to reintroduce the Scimitar-horned Oryx to its separately. Therefore, animals from the two regions similarity between some of the Sand Gazelle (Gazella marica) across the Arabian historic wild range in Chad began in 2015. The should not be mixed. There is a high risk that smaller species of North Africa Peninsula and Slender-horned Gazelle (Gazella Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama) and Addax (Addax species moved outside their original region may leptoceros) in North Africa, from Egypt to Algeria. nasomaculatus) are now extinct in North Africa, but interbreed with the indigenous species, diluting and Arabia has led to confusion. survive in the Sahel in very small numbers; there gene pools and reducing fi tness. In other cases, This fact sheet provides a Idmi or edmi is applied to species occurring mainly in are large collections of both species in captivity. reintroduced animals from outside the region summary of the species that mountains and hilly areas: Cuvier’s or Atlas Gazelle may occupy the habitat of native species and occur naturally in each region. (Gazella cuvieri) in the Maghreb and two species These species form an important part of the displace them to areas of less suitable habitat. in the Arabian Peninsula. Arabian Gazelle (Gazella natural and cultural heritage of North Africa and the arabica) occurs across most of the peninsula and Arabian Peninsula, therefore it is vitally important It is strongly recommended that all these ± In total, 11 species of antelopes occur: fi ve in Mountain Gazelle (Gazella gazella) in the far north. to conserve all of them for future generations. gazelles are conserved and managed the Arabian Peninsula and six in North Africa Until recently the latter two were regarded as the Many projects have been initiated to improve separately in order to maintain the regional (see Table below). The largest antelopes of both same species, but are now split. In the United Arab the conservation status of gazelles in the region. biodiversity and individual character of both Concentrating conservation efforts on wild North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. ± Arabian Peninsula North Africa English Scientifi c Arabic English Scientifi c Arabic name name name name name name ± Arabian Sand Gazella Reem Slender- Gazella Reem, Ghazal Gazelle marica horned Gazelle leptoceros abiad Arabian / Gazella Idmi, Cuvier’s Gazella Edmi Mountain arabica, Dumani Gazelle cuvieri Gazelle Gazella 0162,5 325 650 975 1.300 gazella Dorcas Gazelle Gazella dorcas Ghazal, Km © IUCN 2017 Afri Saudi Gazella Afri GazellesGazelles inin North North Africa Africa Gazelles in Arabian Peninsula Gazelle saudiya Scimitar- Oryx dammah Wach, Begar Gazella cuvieri cuvieri Gazella arabica / Gazella gazella horned Oryx al Ouach Gazella dorcas dorcas Gazella marica 0162,5 325 650 975 1.300 Arabian Oryx Oryx Al Maha Km Gazella leptoceros leptoceros © IUCN 2017 leucoryx Addax Addax Akash, Beggar nasomaculatus al Ouach Gazelles in North Africa GazellesGazelles inin ArabianArabian Peninsula Peninsula Gazella cuvieri Gazella arabica arabica / Gazella / Gazella gazella gazella Dama Gazelle Nanger dama Addra, Mhorr 0162,5 325 650 975 1.300 Km Gazella dorcas © IUCN 2017 Gazella marica marica Gazella leptoceros Gazelles in North Africa Gazelles in Arabian Peninsula Gazella cuvieri Gazella arabica / Gazella gazella Gazella dorcas Gazella marica Gazella leptoceros Arabian Sand Gazelle – the reem Slender-horned Gazelle – Arabian Gazelle – Cuvier’s Gazelle – Arabian Oryx. Scimitar-horned Oryx. of the Arabian Peninsula. the reem of North Africa. the idmi of the Arabian Peninsula. the idmi of North Africa. Photo © David Mallon/ASG Photo © David Mallon/ASG Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Photo © Tim Wacher/ZSL Antelopes are among the regions, the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Arabia Emirates, dumani is often used instead of idmi. populations in their natural habitat provides the best-known animals of the and the Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) of But both these Arabian gazelles have always been best guarantee of long-term success. In situations North Africa, are distinctive and well known. entirely different to the ‘Edmi’ of North Africa. where species have become extinct in the wild, deserts of North Africa and or their ranges have been severely reduced, the Arabian Peninsula. These The smaller gazelle species are similar in Afri refers to the Saudi Gazelle (Gazella saudiya) reintroductions may be the only option. Several species have adapted to some appearance and they occupy similar habitats of the Arabian Peninsula, which is sadly now operations to reintroduce species to sites where of the most extreme desert in each region. Due to the shared history and extinct, and is also used in some places for they have disappeared have already taken place. language, some gazelles have the same common the Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas), which IUCN has published Guidelines on Reintroductions environments in the world names. Despite this, it is important to note that still occurs widely across North Africa. (2013) that should be followed in all cases. and they have always been these are in fact all different species and that celebrated for their grace and no species occurs in both these regions. The Arabian Oryx and Scimitar-horned Oryx In planning and implementing all these and future beauty in the art and poetry both became extinct in the wild. The Arabian projects, it is essential to keep in mind that the Reem is the name given to the gazelles inhabiting Oryx has since been reintroduced into several antelopes of North Africa and those of the Arabian of the region. Although well- dunes and sandy deserts, but the two types sites in the Arabian Peninsula and a project Peninsula are completely distinct and have evolved known in a general sense, close of gazelle called ‘Reem’ are different: Arabian to reintroduce the Scimitar-horned Oryx to its separately. Therefore, animals from the two regions similarity between some of the Sand Gazelle (Gazella marica) across the Arabian historic wild range in Chad began in 2015. The should not be mixed. There is a high risk that smaller species of North Africa Peninsula and Slender-horned Gazelle (Gazella Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama) and Addax (Addax species moved outside their original region may leptoceros) in North Africa, from Egypt to Algeria. nasomaculatus) are now extinct in North Africa, but interbreed with the indigenous species, diluting and Arabia has led to confusion. survive in the Sahel in very small numbers; there gene pools and reducing fi tness. In other cases, This fact sheet provides a Idmi or edmi is applied to species occurring mainly in are large collections of both species in captivity. reintroduced animals from outside the region summary of the species that mountains and hilly areas: Cuvier’s or Atlas Gazelle may occupy the habitat of native species and occur naturally in each region.