A retrospective analysis of necropsy reports and stock-data of the Soemmerring's gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii) at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP), Qatar.

Abstract

The Soemmerring’s gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii) is a small antelope, which is only kept in a few zoos worldwide. Therefore, only little information is available on their husbandry requirements and the diseases occurring in this species. At Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, a large herd has been kept for many years. It was the aim of this study to analyse the population development of this gazelle at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation and to evaluate causes of death. In adult animals, trauma, either due to intraspecific aggression or running into fences was the main cause of death, followed by pneumonia and enteritis, whereas in sub-adult individuals infectious diseases were the main cause of death. Newborn mortality was highly correlated to the population size (and thus population density) and reached a maximum of 52 % when population size was at its highest. These findings demonstrate that newborns are very susceptible to crowding phenomena. Due to a strict population management by birth control and translocation of animals, newborn mortality was reduced to 17 %. Therefore, we recommend a strict population management by either translocation or harvesting surplus offspring to minimise newborn losses and maximise rearing success. This will finally help to increase animal welfare in captive hoof stock.