Sahelo-Saharan antelopes exhibit marked physiological, morphological and behavioural adaptation to arid habitats. As such, they are keystone species in the maintenance of biodiversity, particularly vegetative and predator communities, in the Sahelo-Saharan region. In addition to being a primary source of exploitable biomass they have historically played a major role in the culture and livelihood of indigenous peoples of the region. But due to severe habitat degradation and excessive hunting activities over the past few decades Sahelo-Saharan antelopes have been in rapid decline and some of those species are extinct or in danger of extinction.

Six of them are listed in Appendix I of Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). In 1998, an Action Plan for the conservation and restoration of the species and their habitats initiated by CMS and prepared by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (IRSNB) entered into force. Presently, the CMS Secretariat is requested to develop a Range State agreement.

Ecological, Economic and Cultural Significance

Saharan Africa has lost more higher vertebrate species, birds and mammals than any other region of the Palaearctic. Such recent diversity loss of larger species exemplifies the severely threatened ecological status of North Africa, and is particularly worrying in the current context of general decline of local populations of species still present in the desert and sub-desert habitats of the region. Among these, several species of Sahelo-Saharan ungulates are seriously threatened at a global level. Five species, Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah), Addax (Addax nasomaculatus), Dama Gazelle (Gazella dama), Slender-horned Gazelle (Gazella leptoceros) and Cuvier's Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri), endemic to the Sahelo-Saharan region are in immediate danger of extinction. The distribution of a sixth species, Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas), extends through the Sinai into southern Israel, but this represents less than one percent of its overall range, and the species' main distribution area lies within the Sahelo-Saharan region. The population of Dorcas Gazelle is in serious decline.

These six antelopes are among the most striking elements of the natural heritage common to 15 Saharan and circum-Saharan countries. They have developed unique adaptation systems to the most arid environment. Some of them have even adapted to the most remote dunes of the Sahara. With the possible exception of Gazella cuvieri, they survive without drinking for months and reportedly are capable of living in their natural habitat in the complete absence of surface water. They are highly mobile and range over large areas to exploit meagre, widely dispersed, ephemeral food sources. They presumably are capable of sensing rainfall, hence, vegetative growth. and they selectively feed on plants with high water content.

Early explorers of the Sahelo-Saharan region marvelled at the ability of desert antelopes to survive, often in considerable numbers, in seemingly uninhabitable arid lands, where domestic livestock is incapable of surviving year-round. The ability of these species to efficiently exploit the sparse resources of desert ecosystems is remarkable, and under natural conditions, they undoubtedly capture, conserve and redistribute a significant portion of the primary productivity (biomass) in desert and semi-desert habitats.

Throughout the region, indigenous peoples have historically profited directly or indirectly from the seasonal exploitation of antelopes for food and other by-products. Dried antelope meat was once a commodity in markets of Northern Africa, and the larger species, i.e., Scimitar-horned Oryx and Addax, were culturally important for several tribes in the Southern Sahara and the Sahel. Today, antelopes remain one of the few natural resources of arid lands that might have good potential for sustainable economic development.

Risk of Extinction

Due to over-hunting and degradation of habitat, Sahelo-Saharan antelopes have been in rapid decline for many decades. Unsustainable hunting with modern firearms and motorized vehicles devastated populations during the mid-1900`s. For two decades, these species have collectively been among the most endangered groups of animals on earth. The situation for Addax and Dama Gazelle is particularly critical; wild populations of both species have been reduced to a few hundred animals. Slender-horned Gazelle and Cuvier's Gazelle fare little better (i.e., are endangered and number a few thousand in the wild) and are rapidly approaching critically endangered status. Scimitar-horned Oryx are probably extinct in the wild. The last confirmed sighting was in Niger in 1988.

The CMS Initiative for Conservation of Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes

A handful of conservation actions for Sahelo-Saharan antelopes undertaken under the auspices of Fauna and Flora International (FFPS at the time), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the 1970s and 1980s had very limited impact in either curbing the decline of the species in the wild or restoring (reintroducing) wild populations, although it merits recognition that these and other initiatives, e.g. by German para state organizations succeeded in re-establishing some small populations in National Parks of Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal. French and Belgian organizations also conducted some important research activities.

In view of this situation, in 1994 the Conference of the Parties of CMS adopted a resolution that recommended the development and the implementation of an Action Plan for the conservation of these six ungulate species. A first project, representing the initial step toward the development and the implementation of the first Action Plan, was initiated in mid-1996, financed by CMS, and coordinated by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (IRSNB). The main objectives of the project included the compilation of comprehensive status reports of the respective species throughout the migration range based on the most recent surveys and reports, the up-dating and development of a draft Action Plan, and the organisation of a workshop of experts from the 14 Range States (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia), specialists from neighbouring countries, scientific institutions and non-governmental organisations. The meeting was held in February 1998 in Djerba, Tunisia, and the participants examined the status reports, amended and adopted the proposed Action Plan, and requested the UNEP/CMS Secretariat to develop a Range State agreement and convene a follow-up meeting at an appropriate time.

The Action Plan for the conservation and restoration of the Sahelo-Saharan antelopes and their habitats comprises the three following main objectives:

1. to restore range and numbers (conserve or restore potential habitats in areas of former occurrence, consolidate or reinforce populations, reintroduce populations),

2. to reduce mortality (increase public awareness, census populations, conserve relict habitats, enact and enforce legislative measures, involve local communities),

3. to enhance international cooperation (improve exchange of information and technical expertise, raise funds for conservation programmes).

Further Information, Publications and Links:

CMS TECHNICAL SERIES PUBLICATION NO. 4: Conservation Measures for Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes. Action Plan and Status Report
	For more detailed information download the CMS Technical Series Publication No. 4 : Conservation Measures for Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes. Action Plan and Status Reports [ Cover Page (100KB) ; Entire Document (2,1 MB) ]

Read more on concerted action for Sahelo-Saharan antelopes on the IRSNB website here.

Images:

Addax at Temet, Niger; © John Newby / Living Deserts
Niger Acacia; © John Newby / Living Deserts
Slender-horned Gazelle; © John Newby / Living Deserts
Addax at the National Park Sous Massa (Reserve Rokhein); © H.-P. Mueller
Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas); © John Newby / Living Deserts
Collecting Information on Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) in Chad;; © John Newby / Living Deserts