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The historic and current distributions and statuses of Morocco's native and introduced wild ungulates, except the boar Sus scrofa, are reported. Suggestions for conservation are included. Three species have been extirpated in Moroccan territory. The last reported hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus were shot in 1925. Addax Addax nasomaculatus and oryx Oryx gazella dammah lived south of the Sequiat al Hamra and were probably extirpated by 1960. Habitat destruction and poaching threaten remaining species. Barbary sheep Ammotragus lervia are dispersed in scattered groups in all chains of the Atlas Mountains. Dorcas gazelles Gazella dorcas roam east of the Atlas and south of the Anti Atlas Mountains; only one wild population exists in Morocco's interior. Cuvier's gazelles Gazella cuvieri remain in three disjunct areas: the northern Middle Atlas, western High Atlas, and Anti Atlas mountains. Dama gazelle Gazella dama might still live south of the Oued Draa. Red deer Cervus elaphus did not live in Morocco in historic times. The subspecies bolivari has been introduced in the Rif mountains. Both sika deer C. nippon and fallow deer C. dama have been introduced, but free-roaming populations do not at present exist.

Resume Cytogenetic analyses involving G- and C-banded chromosomes from the red hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus (2n = 40), the blesbok Damaliscus dorcas (2n = 38) and their hybrids are presented. The diploid number of the hybrids (2n = 39) is consistent with predictions for the F1. The parental species differ in respect of a single fusion; while good banding homology exists between the long arm of the biarmed blesbok marker chromosome and its putative homologue in the red hartebeest, a paracentric inversion appears to have disrupted banding homology between the short arm and the corresponding red hartebeest homologue. Segregational difficulties encountered in the meiosis of hybrids are thought to contribute to sterility, an hypothesis further supported by azoospermia and the paucity of germ cells in seminiferous tubule cross-sections. Our results confirm previously unsubstantiated and anecdotal reports of hybridization between these taxa and, in the broader sense, address issues posed by the translocation of game species, a practice which forms part of current conservation and game marketing strategies.

A study in southern Ethiopia of Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei), an endangered species of antelope, showed the animals to be well adapted to their limited habitat. The animals exhibit certain ecological differences from the closely related Coke's hartebeest in that they have a well-defined calving season, select short grass areas for feeding, are independent of free water and are not territorial throughout the year. The population is now less than 1000 and suitable territory has been reduced to 58 km2.

The central and southwestern Kalahari of Botswana is an area of about 250,000 square kilometres of semi-arid sandy plains, over which large herds of migratory hartebeest, wildebeest, springbok and gemsbok still range in a relatively natural ecosystem. About one-third of the area has been preserved in three game reserves and one national park. The most accessible is Khutse Game Reserve, a typical area of pans and dry savanna, located on the eastern edge of the migration system. The habitats, wildlife and general ecology of Khutse are discussed. Its management will be oriented towards preserving its essential wilderness character, both for ecological and educationalurposes.