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Several national parks on the African continent have been fenced to mitigate human–wildlife conflict, but the effectiveness of different fencing strategies seems to vary between regions. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of electro-fencing for restricting movement patterns of several wild ungulates in Akagera National Park (NP), Rwanda. Following the turmoil of the Rwandan genocide and civil war (1991–1995), large numbers of returning war refugees brought about an increasing pressure on land use, after which considerable parts of the western Akagera NP and adjacent Mutara Game Reserve were degazetted, followed by the construction of an electric fence in 2013 and a helicopter-based game-drive of ungulates into the modern park. We conducted distance sampling of wildlife and domestic livestock in the Uruhita plain – now no longer part of Akagera NP but bordering the modern Akagera NP to the west – for extended periods of time (2010–2015) before and after fencing. For abundant species population densities could be calculated, whereas for other species encounter frequencies are reported. We report on continuously high cattle densities, and increasing encounter frequencies of sheep/goats in the Uruhita plain. We found decreasing densities of zebra (Equus quagga) and decreasing encounter frequencies of waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), stagnant encounter frequencies in the case of topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela) and stagnant densities of impala (Aepyceros melampus). The latter species can jump fences, and we argue that competitive release and reduced predation may be the prime factors leading impala to (temporarily) exploit grasslands outside the modern national park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which assessed the population of the Arabian Gazelles or Gazelle arabica found on Farasan Kebir. The study consisted of two methods of estimating the population through road strip count which include the traditional technique after Bothma, with a fixed strip width and the distance sampling using DISTANCE 6.0. It was observed that despite some differences, population was stable possibly due to the fishing industry and the lack of hunting in the area.

The article discusses the results of a study that examined the camera trapping images of sevean Arabian gazelles, Gazella arabica in Wadi Tarj, Saudia Arabia. In the images, all gazelles were moving or feeding, with the yearling male foraging on the fallen fruits/pods of Acacia asak. The taxonomic status of the animals captured on the images is discussed, with Gazella arabica cora inhibiting the lower plains and Gazella erlangeri adapting to higher elevations of the mountains.

The article focuses on the preservation of mountain gazelles in the Tuwayq Mountains in central Saudi Arabia. Mountain gazelles were released between 1990 and 2007 as part of a re-introduction program that aims to re-establish its population in the Tuwayq Mountains. The number of gazelles in the Ibex Reserve initially increased during the five years after the first release. Protection of naturally occurring Mountain Gazelle population is the key for the survival of the species.

This article reports on a study of the macro-molluscan fauna inhabiting the Pinctada radiata pearl oyster beds in the Red Sea around the Farasan Islands. It was noted that the Pinctada is a fouling species that lives attached by a byssus to hard substrates like stones and rocks. Such colonies of oysters themselves reportedly function as hard substrates for a number of marine organisms such as echinoderms, crustaceans and corals. The study was conducted using a quantitative survey of the by-catch left by oyster divers.

Mountain gazelles (Gazella gazella) rank among the most critically endangered mammals on the Arabian Peninsula. Past conservation efforts have been plagued by confusion about the phylogenetic relationship among various 'phenotypically discernable' populations, and even the question of species boundaries was far from being certain. This lack of knowledge has had a direct impact on conservation measures, especially ex situ breeding programmes, hampering the assignment of captive stocks to potential conservation units. Here, we provide a phylogenetic framework, based on the analysis of mtDNA sequences (360 bp cytochrome b and 213 bp Control Region) of 126 individuals collected from the wild throughout the Arabian Peninsula and from captive stocks. Our analyses revealed two reciprocally monophyletic genetic lineages within the presumed species Gazella gazella: one 'northern clade' on the Golan Heights (Israel/Syrian border) and one genetically diverse larger clade from the rest of the Arabian Peninsula including the Arava Valley (Negev, Israel). Applying the Strict Phylogenetic Species Concept (sensu Mishler & Theriot, 2000) allows assigning species status to these two major clades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article determines the habitat preference and activity patterns of the Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi heyi Temminck which can be found in the Ibex Reserve in central Saudi Arabia. Study shows that the species would want to stay in flood banks as well as in rocky wadi beds but would rather avoid riverine vegetation, open gravel plains and scree slopes. It is further noted that the species activity early in the morning was the highest during the day due to sunrise factor.

The article offers information on the study related to the persistence of wolves in the Jebel Tuwaig ecosystem in Central Saudi Arabia. The study shows that the number of Arabian Wolf on the Arabian Peninsula has accordingly declined and intact ecosystems, wherein large carnivores prey on larger mammals, can no longer be found in the region. It also mentions a report on the occurrence of wolves in the region in 1945 when D. L. Harrison reported on an adult male collected near Buraida, northwest of Riyadh. According to the article, the protection in the kingdom is not easy since the species in considered sometimes can cause misery of Bedouins since time immemorial.