Monitoring threatened ungulates (Gazella cuvieri and Ammotragus lervia) in the semi-arid North African Nador Mountains

Abstract

Cuvier’s gazelle ( Gazella cuvieri ) and aoudad ( Ammotragus lervia ) are listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN red list, and any population should be the subject of scientific attention. Both ungulates were monitored for a year in the Nador Mountains (western Algeria). This is the first record of aoudad in this part of Tiaret province. Both species are partly sympatric. However, the aoudad was sighted only in small numbers in the roughest valleys in the north. The gazelle population is larger, but with few juveniles. The future of these wild ungulates is therefore worrying, and new conservation measures are required, including protecting this area.