Conservation of Scimitar-horned Oryx and its Habitat in Dghoumes National Park, Tunisia
Blueprint
ASSESS
The Tunisian reintroduction of Scimitar-horned Oryx (SHO) started in 1985 with the release of 10 animals transported from UK zoos to Bou Hedma National Park. By 2000, the SHO had been established in three Tunisian protected areas through additional reintroductions. The Direction Générale des Forêts (Ministère de l’Agriculture, de la Pêche et des Ressources Hydrauliques, Tunisie) (DGF) allocated Dghoumes National Park as a fourth area within the species’ indigenous range where substantial habitat regeneration had been initiated. Additional populations of SHO would both secure the future health of the metapopulation and become a keystone in restoring/protecting arid land ecosystems within the country. The DGF requested assistance in re-establishing this fourth population from the zoo community. The help came from coordinators of the Addax and SHO conservation programmes. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) contributed via their ex situ Programme (EEP) and the North American Association of Zoos and Aquaria (AZA) also supported via their Species Survival Plan (SSP).
The European and North American populations were evaluated to determine availability of animals for release. An assessment was done to quantify the genetic diversity of the populations in Tunisia compared with the EEP and SSP populations. Legislative and strategic framework was also assessed to comply with the broader context of biodiversity conservation and protected area management in Tunisia.
PLAN
A long-term national strategy for the conservation and metapopulation management of antelope in Tunisia was developed by the DGF from 2001–-2020, with the SHO, Addax and other antelope species action plans reviewed during a sponsored 2004 Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) workshop in Douz. Under the national strategy, the release of SHO to Dghoumes NP and of Addax to Jbil NP were planned to be conducted in tandem. Project planning was completed for both species with clear objectives set by DGF and the Addax/SHO EEP and SSP partners. In 2004, a technical workshop resulted in recommendations for metapopulation management of both species. Following these recommendations, in 2005 a joint EEP and SSP delegation, hosted by the DGF, visited relevant protected areas to review the existing combined antelope population statuses. Based on the data, the timeframe for antelope translocation and augmentation operations was decided. From 2006–2007, preparation was conducted at Dghoumes NP. The team assessed biomass and animal enclosures and delivered monitoring equipment. Animals from the EEP and SSP were then selected to specifically enhance the genetic diversity of the Tunisian metapopulation.
ACT
Tunisia established a network of protected areas, managed locally by the governorate through the Chef d’Arrondissement des Forêts du Commisariat Régional de Développement Agricole (CRDA) with the DGF as the central authority. Legislation for wildlife conservation is based on the Forestry Code (Code Forestier). The code includes provisions for regulation of hunting, conservation of game species, protection of flora and fauna, and establishment of protected areas. The DGF is responsible for implementing the Forestry Code on national land (including reserves and national parks). However, management of protected areas is carried out locally under the authority of CRDA. The goal of this network was to re-establish populations of arid land antelopes and gazelles within their former range and restore their habitat.
Zoos provided the animals for release, and co-planned, co-managed, and implemented conservation translocations to four fenced, protected areas in Tunisia. In February 2007, eight SHO (three males, five females) were captured in Bou Hedma NP and translocated to Dghoumes NP as part of the CMS / Fonds Francais pour l'Environnement Mondial ‘Sahelo-Saharan Antelope’ Project. They were released into the park after a period of post-transport monitoring and acclimatisation in a six-hectare pre-release enclosure in Dghoumes NP. In December that year, nine SHO were transported from the EEP and SSP to Dghoumes NP and underwent a period of quarantine and acclimatisation in the pre-release enclosure. They were released into Dghoumes NP early in 2008 and formed one large herd with the SHO from Bou Hedma NP. In 2020, there were approximately 100 SHO in the park. The protocols for the post-release monitoring of these translocations were adjusted to follow the 2013 publication of the IUCN Guidelines on Reintroduction and other Conservation Translocations. Reintroductions previous to this adjustment adhered to the 1998 ‘IUCN Guidelines for Re-Introductions.’
Results
This programme resulted in the successful re-establishment of Scimitar-horned Oryx herds within fenced, protected areas of natural habitat. The herds are within the species’ former range and have grown to approximately 300 oryx (100 in Dghoumes NP). The founding animals were provided by zoo breeding programmes from the European EEP and North American SSP. Surveys are conducted to evaluate demographic changes to the SHO population over time. Molecular genetic sampling of the metapopulation is conducted to determine both population persistence and retention of genetic diversity. These parameters are imported into Population Viability Analysis software to model the impact of different management decisions and strategies for the metapopulation. Health monitoring and veterinary care are conducted when appropriate. The wider ecosystem is also monitored using a network of camera traps. Lastly, the program helps train the next generation of Tunisian ecologists and wildlife veterinarians.
Visual & Audio References
©Marwell Wildlife
Collaborations
Major
Partners
Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole (CDRA) of Tozeur and Sidi Bouzid
Direction Générales des Forêts (Ministère de l’Agriculture, de la Pêche et des Ressources Hydrauliques)
Erlebnis Zoo Hannover (Germany)
Marwell Wildlife (UK)
St Louis Zoo (USA)
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA)
Additional
Contributors
Bamberger Ranch (USA); Cincinnati Zoo (USA); Convention on Migratory Species (CMS); European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA); Fossil Rim (USA); Fota Wildlife Park (Ireland); National Museum of Natural History (France); Institut Pasteur of Tunis; Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunis; Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique; International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife (France); Kansas City Zoo (USA); Le Pal (France); National Zoological Park Conservation Research Centre (USA); Sahara Conservation Fund (France); The Wilds (USA); Tunisian Direction Générale des Services Vétérinaires (DGSV); Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (WildGenes Laboratory); San Diego Zoo (USA); Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh (UK); Zoological Society of London (UK)
Funders
Artis; Royal Zoo Amsterdam (Netherlands); Beyond Motion Productions (USA); Brevard Zoo (USA); Brookfield Zoo (USA); Buffalo Zoo (USA); Chester Zoo (UK); Dachser Logistiks (Germany); Dublin Zoo (Ireland); Dvur Kralove (Czech Republic); Kansas City Zoo AAZK Chapter (USA); Kolmarden Zoo (Sweden); La Palmyre Zoo (France); Lisbon Zoo (Portugal); Longleat Safari Park (UK); Mulhouse Zoo (France); Nürnberg Zoo (Germany); Parco Faunistico Le Cornelle (Italy); Paul Chaffee Zoo (USA); Peace River Wildlife Refuge (USA); Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic); Praha Zoo (Czech Republic); Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure (USA); Sacramento Zoo (USA); Safari Enterprises (USA); Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium); Saint Louis Zoo Docents (USA); San Antonio Zoo (USA); West Midlands Safari Park (UK); Wildlife World Zoo (USA); Wilhelma, Stuttgart (Germany); Wroclaw Zoo (Poland); Zoo & Chateau Zlín-Lešná (Czech Republic)
Additional Resources
Content Updated as of 9/8/2020