Environment Al Ain Zoo leads efforts to develop Dama gazelle Conservation Strategy

Al Ain Zoo leads efforts to develop Dama gazelle Conservation Strategy

Al Ain Zoo participated in developing and publishing the Dama Gazelle Conservation Strategy (20192028), after a conservation planning workshop hosted by Al Ain Zoo in 2018. Delegates from government agencies, NGO’s research institutes and representatives from ex situ community participated in this workshop for the first time.

The workshop mainly aimed to review and update the objectives of the Dama gazelle conservation review published in 2014. In addition to identify and agree on actions to reduce the extinction risk of Dama Gazelle in situ and ex situ.

The workshop introduced a series of recommendations, the most important of which was updating the latest information about the Dama gazelle’s numbers and location in its natural habitat and procedures from range countries to protect the species from extinction.

It also discussed the opportunities for reintroduction, the potential locations identified for the release and the results of the latest genetic research studies.

Additionally, the workshop looked into the training requirements and specialised technical courses required by participants in the areas of field research, animal relocation and veterinary research.

Hessa Ahmed Al Qahtani, Unit Head Conservation Programs Development, said: “Following the steps and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of Al Ain Zoo, we strive to protect one of the most endangered antelope species in the world by participating and leading in various strategies together with local, regional and global partners that will contribute to saving this species from extinction.”

There are currently over 80 Dama gazelle in Al Ain Zoo, of two sub-species the Addra and Mhorr. The Dama Gazelle is critically endangered and less than 100 individuals remain in the wild.