The response of commensal hamadryas baboons to seasonal reduction in food provisioning

En haut de la falaise de Al Hada, les automobilistes de passage nourrissent quotidiennement les babouins et une grande troupe de Papio hamadryas vit principalement de cette manne. La croissance de cette troupe de singes commensaux préoccupe les autorités locales qui aimeraient en limiter l'effectif. La solution la plus directe serait l'interdiction de nourrir les animaux, poussant ainsi les babouins à exploiter la végétation naturelle, mais la qualité des ressources naturelles et la capacité des babouins à les utiliser restent incertaines. La réponse à une réduction de l'apport alimentaire a été étudiée pendant que la route était fermée pour réparation en hive

Management of commensal baboons in Saudi Arabia

Avec le récent développement urbain dans les montagnes du sud-ouest saoudien, certaines populations locales de Papio hamadryas sont devenues dépendantes de l'homme pour leur subsistance. Nous avons mené une analyse globale de la situation et des origines des conflits homme/babouins en Arabie Saoudite. Parmi les solutions pratiques pour résoudre les situations de conflit, nous avons proposé et expérimenté la réduction du taux de reproduction par vasectomie des mâles et implantation hormonale des femelles, l'usage de matériel d'effarouchement acoustique (canon à gaz modifié) et de chiens spécialement entraînés. Un programme d'action a été mis en place comprenant des solutions à court terme pour parer aux situations de conflit déjà installées et des actions à long terme pour supprimer les causes fondamentales du commensalisme en Arabi

Crossing the Red Sea: phylogeography of the hamadryas baboon, Papio hamadryas hamadryas

International audienceThe hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) is found both in East Africa and western Arabia and is the only free-ranging nonhuman primate in Arabia. It has been hypothesized that hamadryas baboons colonized Arabia in the recent past and were possibly even transported there by humans. We investigated the phylogeography of hamadryas baboons by sequencing a portion of the control region of mtDNA in 107 baboons from four Saudi Arabian populations and combing these data with published data from Eritrean (African) P. h. hamadryas. Analysis grouped sequences into three distinct clades, with clade 1 found only in Arabia, clade 3 found only in Africa, but clade 2 found in both Arabian and African P. h. hamadryas and also in the olive baboon, P. h. anubis. Patterns of variation within Arabia are neither compatible with the recent colonization of Arabia, implying that baboons were not transported there by humans, nor with a northerly route of colonization of Arabia. We propose that hamadryas baboons reached Arabia via land bridges that have formed periodically during glacial maxima at the straits of Bab el Mandab in the southern Red Sea. We suggest that the genetic differentiation of Arabian from African populations suggests that Arabian populations have a higher conservation status than recognized previously

Primates, Provisioning and Plants: Impacts of Human Cultural Behaviours on Primate Ecological Functions

Human provisioning of wildlife with food is a widespread global practice that occurs in multiple socio-cultural circumstances. Provisioning may indirectly alter ecosystem functioning through changes in the eco-ethology of animals, but few studies have quantified this aspect. Provisioning of primates by humans is known to impact their activity budgets, diets and ranging patterns. Primates are also keystone species in tropical forests through their role as seed dispersers; yet there is no information on how provisioning might affect primate ecological functions. The rhesus macaque is a major human-commensal species but is also an important seed disperser in the wild. In this study, we investigated the potential impacts of provisioning on the role of rhesus macaques as seed dispersers in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, India. We studied a troop of macaques which were provisioned for a part of the year and were dependent on natural resources for the rest. We observed feeding behaviour, seed handling techniques and ranging patterns of the macaques and monitored availability of wild fruits. Irrespective of fruit availability, frugivory and seed dispersal activities decreased when the macaques were provisioned. Provisioned macaques also had shortened daily ranges implying shorter dispersal distances. Finally, during provisioning periods, seeds were deposited on tarmac roads that were unconducive for germination. Provisioning promotes human-primate conflict, as commensal primates are often involved in aggressive encounters with humans over resources, leading to negative consequences for both parties involved. Preventing or curbing provisioning is not an easy task as feeding wild animals is a socio-cultural tradition across much of South and South-East Asia, including India. We recommend the initiation of literacy programmes that educate lay citizens about the ill-effects of provisioning and strongly caution them against the practice

Catastrophic die-off of globally threatened Arabian Oryx and Sand Gazelle in the fenced protected area of the arid central Saudi Arabia

A large number of die-off of globally threatened Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx), and Arabian Sand Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica) were recorded from 1999 to 2008 in fenced Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area (PA) in western-central Saudi Arabia. Mortalities of animals have been recorded during summer months when the rainfall is negligible or insignificant. Deaths were due to starvation because of reduced availability, accessibility and quality of food plants in the area. In total, 560 oryx and 2815 sand gazelle deaths were recorded since the reintroduction projects began till the end of 2008. Mortalities of animals were higher in 1999-2001, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Grazing of oryx habitat depends on rainfall and animals move over great distances in response to rain. The fence around Mahazat as-Sayd PA prevents natural movements of animals, and artificially concentrates the ungulate populations into possibly unfavourable habitat. The sand gazelle is a highly gregarious and migratory species, moving long distances in search of good quality pastures. Populations of sand gazelle in Central Asia are also known to migrate over large distances, covering several hundred kilometers. It is therefore likely that by preventing natural movements of sand gazelles and oryx, fencing may have reinforced the effects of stressful conditions such as drought. To reduce the catastrophic effects, a Strategy and Action Plan was developed in August 2008 to manage oryx and gazelle within the reserve and with provision for food and water at the five camps in the reserve as emergency plan to minimize mortalities

Re-introduction of globally threatened Arabian Gazelles <i>Gazella Arabica</i> (Pallas, 1766) (Mammalia: Bovidae) in fenced protected area in central Saudi Arabia

The Arabian Gazelle is a globally threatened antelope (Vulnerable) in Saudi Arabia. Small relict populations remain in limited areas, while historically Arabian Gazelles occurred in Mahazat as-Sayd protected area in central Saudi Arabia but were exterminated by anthropogenic and other pressures, including habitat loss and hunting. Important habitat has been lost to agricultural developments, fencing of pasture for livestock and the construction of human settlements and roads. The reintroduction of Arabian Gazelles was undertaken in Mahazat during 2011-2014 to bring back this locally extinct species study its ecology and biology in a fenced protected area. We released a total of 49 (12 males, 37 females) animals. A year after release animals started breeding and six calves have been recorded so far with more to come. The gazelles prefer to use more rocky areas where shrubs and acacia trees occur in the reserve, and do not move long distances except for one individual that moved more than 50km. Mahazat is fenced, which prevents local people from entering the reserve to poach or otherwise disturb animals. Management lessons include the need for continued monitor-ing of reintroduced populations. Interactions between Arabian and Sand Gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica) and Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were also studied

Population development of re-introduced mountain gazelle in the western Empty Quarter (Uruq Bani Ma’arid Protected Area), Saudi Arabia

Uruq Bani Ma’arid (UBM), Saudi Arabia’s largest protected area, is bounded to the west by the southernmost extension of the Tuwaiq Escarpment, a remnant Jurassic limestone massif, and forms part of the extensive sands (mainly longitudinal dunes) of the famous Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter), the largest sand sea in the world. The area was protected in 1993 because of its unique landscape, an intact habitat with little or no human disturbance, and its potential as a suitable re-introduction site for the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle and ostrich. For mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) the area was considered rather unsuitable due to its location at the edge of the former geographical range of the species, and was thought to provide only marginal habitat. Historically, mountain gazelle occurred primarily in more rocky habitats across most of the Arabian Peninsula. The current range includes southern Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, (though recent genetic evidence suggests those from the northern countries should now be treated as a completely separate conservation unit or even species). The IUCN Red List currently ranks the species as ‘Vulnerable’ (A2ad). Mountain gazelle numbers have decreased dramatically throughout their range, particularly in Saudi Arabia. In an effort to establish a population in the southern Tuwaiq Mountains, the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) initiated a re-introduction program in 1996 (Dunham Adult male mountain gazelle in its preferred habitat at UBM Protected Are