Scimitar-horned Oryx
WAZA magazine Vol 13/2012
27
Fig. 2 Male scimitar-horned oryx being released from his crate into an acclimatisation pen in Dghoumes National Park, Tunisia. © Tim Woodfine/Marwell Wildlife
The reintroduction of oryx to Dghoumes National Park was the culmination of five years of collaboration between the EEP, SSP, Tunisian Direction Générales des Forêts, Convention on Migratory Species and Sahara Conservation Fund. The project took place under the Direction Générales des Forêts National Strategy for the Conservation of Sahelo-Saharan Antelope in Tunisia, the National Metapopulation Management Plan for the species and the Convention on Migratory Species’ Concerted Action Plan for Sahelo-Saharan mega-fauna (Beudels et al. 2005).
Case Study: Dghoumes National Park, Tunisia Dghoumes National Park is an 8,000 ha partially fenced protected area on the edge of a large salt pan, the Chott el Jerid. The park contains three main habitat types: steppe grassland, mountains and part of the Chott itself. Nine oryx from the EEP and SSP populations were selected to create a demographically stable release group and to maximise genetic diversity in both Dghoumes National Park and the Tunisian metapopulation (Woodfine et al. 2009). These oryx were released into the park in December 2007 where they joined a group of seven oryx that had been transferred from Bou Hedma National Park earlier in the year, making a total founding population of 16 animals (Fig. 2).
The EEP and SSP oryx quickly adapted to the local conditions, locating water, shade and food resources, and soon joined the Bou Hedma oryx, forming one large herd. The optimal habitat conditions combined with effective protection have resulted in a high birth rate and low mortality rate, and the oryx population has grown to 68 within five years of being released. The oryx have formed flexible social groups and utilise a large part of the park, including the mountain range. Post-release monitoring and management continue, and future plans include enhanced monitoring, development of resources within an existing eco-museum in the park, training for the park rangers and wider community engagement and education.
Whilst there is an undoubted economic, cultural and intrinsic value to reintroducing the oryx to its former range, such reintroductions also have an impact on local biodiversity. Historically, the land covering all four parks and reserves in Tunisia that hold oryx had been intensively overgrazed by domestic livestock. A programme of fencing and habitat restoration by the Direction Générales des Forêts in preparation for the reintroduction of Sahelo-Saharan antelopes and gazelles has seen the re-establishment of native flora and with it insect, bird, reptile, amphibian and small mammal diversity.