The Slender-horned gazelle is a particularly elegant small gazelle endemic to North Africa. It is a sand living specialist, closely associated with the dramatic sand seas (Ergs) of the northern Sahara and is the closest living relative of the Sand gazelle that ZSL teams have been captive breeding and re-introducing successfully in Saudi Arabia.

They are listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Redlist.

The survey was the first of its kind directed at this important and attractive species. The aim was to establish and map information on the current presence of Slender-horned gazelles in the Tunisian sector of the Grand Erg Oriental, and if possible create baseline data on their relative abundance.

_{[This painting of Slender-horned gazelles is from ‘The Book of Antelopes’, Sclater & Thomas 1898 in the ZSL library. Phillip Lutley Sclater was Secretary of the Society from 1859-1903. Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas was a Fellow of the Society and eminent Mammalogist at the British Museum.]}

The Tunisian Government is in the process of establishing two national parks associated witht the Erg Oriental habitats at Djebil and Senghar some 100km to the west of Tataouine.

The objective of the National Parks is twofold: to protect and restore an area of unique natural resource heritage and to stimluate economic activity in the dry southern regions of the country through promotion of tourism based on landscape and desert wilderness.

The DGF aims to integrate conservation in southern Tunisia with existing activities. The Ergs and their margins are used by the nomadic Saoufa who graze their livestock seasonally through the region.

The region also plays an important economic role for the oil industry while desert wilderness tourism, both traditional camel safaris and 4x4 adventure travel, plays a key role in the development of local towns such as Douz and Tataouine.

The Slender-horned gazelle survey travelled on foot and with camels 160kms through the Erg Oriental between Djebil National Park and Senghar National park.

The survey organised systematic transects at 2-3 km intervals, with a ‘botany’ team collecting observations on density of key plant species and a ‘mammal team’ counting the frequency of animal signs, especially tracks and signs of Slender-horned gazelle.

Systematic observations of conditions, especially temperature, wind speed and direction were maintained.

Large specimens of the shrub Calligonum azel are a major feature of the upper dunes in the interior of the erg, and an important source of shade and shelter for gazelles.

Interdunal valleys between the bigger dunes were particularly good places to search for signs of slender-horned gazelles and are important feeding areas.

Tracks and signs of gazelles were widespread and found on 75% of transects in interdunal valleys. Signs of vehicles, mostly from tourist transport but also caused by hunters pursuing gazelles on quad bikes, were recorded on 66% of transects. Only 5 live gazelles were seen

It was concluded that a very small but important population of Slender-horned gazelles persists in the Tunsian Erg Oriental. They are much reduced compared to reports from ca. 100 years ago, and under pressure from disturbance and active hunting. And it was noted that surveys of this potentially nomadic species need to be conducted in different seasons to understand its ecology in the area better.

Future plans for the Tunisian Slender-horned gazelle include:

• a repeat survey of the more remote western parts of Djebil National Park,
• development of capacity for DGF rangers to patrol and protect the whole region
• expansion of local awareness about the importance and needs of this population
  particularly in the tourism industry and among all other users of the desert.
• Options to introduce scientifically managed breeding of small populations of captive Slender-horned gazelles (such as this male at Djebil National Park (NP) and breeding female at Sidi-Toui NP) as a means to provide in situ reinforcement of the wild population, should also be reviewed.

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