Sahelo-Saharan Antelope

The Sahelo-Saharan region extends over much of Northern part of the continent of Africa. It is highly varied, encompassing (huge sand dunes), mountains, wadis and desert oases as well as dry forests and seasonal grasslands.

A striking array of antelope and gazelle used to flourish here, but hunting pressure, habitat loss and competition with humans have all taken their toll.

ZSL is working with in-country partners to assess the state of these species and repair some of their struggling populations and their habitats.

Threatened Desert Diversity

Species like scimitar-horned Oryx and elegant slender horned gazelles used to exist in great numbers across this region. These species have to move with the seasonally changing desert boundaries, bringing them into close competition with humans in the region. Added other human pressures such as hunting and war, many Saharan ungulates have dwindled to near extinction.

More about the diversity and threats to wildlife

Rebuilding Populations

Antelope are crucial to Sahelo-Saharan ecosystems. Without them, the biodiversity of the region suffers, along with local peoples whose livelihoods depended on the antelope. ZSL manages breeding programmes for several species at the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre in Saudi Arabia. These programmes have been very successful so far, and led to important reintroductions.

More about antelope breeding and reintroductions.

Find out about our key species:

Surveying the Sahara

Assessing the scale of the problem is essential for conservation work. ZSL is involved in many bio-monitoring projects here, including in remaining wild pockets of biodiversity using cutting-edge techniques.
Read about our monitoring

Recently we have been working with the Saharan Conservation Fund on the Pan Saharan Wildlife Survey

Picture Galleries

The Sahelo-Saharah region is very beautiful and has stunning wildlife to match. We have been working on the ground to return this wildlife to the region and protect its habitats.