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Pangolins are one of the most threatened mammal groups, as a result of habitat loss and exploitation for their meat, scales, and other body parts. However, there is a lack of quantitative data on pangolin populations; their behaviour and ecology make them challenging to survey. We undertook systematic camera-trap surveys of the 5260 km2 World Heritage Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, sampling 305 sites in eight grids over 28,277 camera-trap days. We recorded 768 images of giant pangolin in 99 independent detections at 57 sites (RAI = 0.35), and 2282 images in 355 detections (RAI = 1.26) of white-bellied pangolin at 137 sites. Ground-dwelling giant pangolins were largely confined to the core of the Reserve. Semi-arboreal white-bellied pangolins were predominantly distributed in the northeast, east and south of the Reserve. Lower occupancy in the west and northwest could partly be due to pressures from human settlements around the Hydromekin Dam and Sud-Cameroun Hévéa rubber plantation. Our study suggests that at the ground-level the two species do not spatially segregate, and both were active throughout the night. We found high diel activity overlap, although there was a significant difference in activity peak times. There was also evidence of white-bellied pangolin possibly exhibiting fine-scale behavioural avoidance of giant pangolin.

The Ouadi Rimé–Ouadi Achim Reserve (Réserve de l'Ouadi Rimé–Ouadi Achim) in central Chad supports large numbers of livestock and rare antelopes, and is the site of ongoing reintroductions of the scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah and addax Addax nasomaculatus. We present results of surveys conducted during 2011–2019 to examine patterns of relative abundance and distribution of dorcas gazelles Gazella dorcas, dama gazelles Nanger dama and livestock in relation to each other and to water sources in a 3,500 km2 area in the centre of the Reserve. Dorcas gazelles numbered 7,700–18,000, moving extensively across the area. Livestock varied between c. 2,000 and 68,000 tropical livestock units across surveys, with density doubling in the wet season. Dorcas gazelle distribution was negatively associated with livestock, and livestock density was positively associated with artificial water sources. Dorcas gazelle densities were positively associated with locations where there had been wild fires in the 6 months prior to a survey. Dama gazelles were encountered only 13 times, insufficient to estimate their population size reliably. Opportunistic observations suggest dama gazelles avoid livestock and burnt ground. Our findings highlight the importance of the Reserve. We recommend the designation of a large, well-managed conservation priority zone in the Reserve's core area in which no further development of water resources is permitted. Management of livestock numbers within this zone at or below current levels is essential to integrate national goals for both biodiversity conservation and pastoralism development.

Ungulates have undergone major declines in Central and West African forests as a result of bushmeat trade and habitat loss. Monitoring forest ungulate status is a critical conservation need. We undertook a systematic camera-trap survey of the 5260 km2 Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon’s largest protected area. We deployed cameras at 305 sites in eight grids across the reserve over 28,277 camera-trap days. We recorded 30,601 independent detections of 12 species of forest ungulate. The blue and Peters’ duikers were the most abundant, accounting for 82% of all ungulate detections, both with occupancy >85% in all survey grids. The black-fronted duiker was relatively widespread but rare. The white-bellied duiker and water chevrotain were found mostly in the southern part of the reserve. There were very few detections of sitatunga, forest buffalo and bongo. Our results suggest ecological partitioning among the more abundant duikers based on activity pattern and body size. The reserve faces many pressures including illegal subsistence and commercial hunting. Community surveillance and partnerships, with improved law enforcement are among measures being implemented by the Cameroon government to enhance security and ensure retention of the reserve’s World Heritage status.

Traditional transect survey methods for forest antelopes often underestimate density for common species and do not provide sufficient data for rarer species. The use of camera trapping as a survey tool for medium and large terrestrial mammals has become increasingly common, especially in forest habitats. Here, we applied the distance sampling method to images generated from camera-trap surveys in Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, and used an estimate of the proportion of time animals are active to correct for negative bias in the density estimates from the 24-hour camera-trap survey datasets. We also used multiple covariate distance sampling with body weight as a covariate to estimate detection probabilities and densities of rarer species. These methods provide an effective tool for monitoring the status of individual species or a community of forest antelope species, information urgently needed for conservation planning and action.

Threatened species are frequently patchily distributed across small wild populations, ex situ populations managed with varying levels of intensity, and reintroduced populations. Best practice advocates for integrated management across in situ and ex situ populations. Wild addax (Addax nasomaculatus) now number fewer than 100 individuals, yet thousands of addax remain in ex situ populations, which can provide addax for reintroductions, as has been the case in Tunisia in the mid-1980s. However, integrated management requires genetic data to ascertain the relationships between wild and ex situ populations that have incomplete knowledge of founder origins, management histories and pedigrees. We undertook a global assessment of genetic diversity across wild, ex situ, and reintroduced populations in Tunisia to assist conservation planning for this Critically Endangered species. We show that the remnant wild populations retain more mitochondrial haplotypes which are more evolutionarily diverse than the entirety of the ex situ populations across Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates, and the reintroduced Tunisian population. Additionally, 1704 SNPs revealed that whilst population structure within the ex situ population is minimal, each population carries unique diversity. Finally, we show that careful selection of founders and subsequent genetic management is vital to ensure genetic diversity is provided to, and minimise drift and inbreeding within, reintroductions. Our results highlight a vital need to conserve the last remaining wild addax population, and we provide a genetic foundation for determining integrated conservation strategies to prevent extinction and optimise future reintroductions.

The sand cat is one of the world’s least studied small cats. Our camera-trap survey, one of the largest undertaken in a desert system, generated over 1500 images of the species across 100 camera-traps distributed systematically over the 2400 km2 core area of the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Protected Area of the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia. The study revealed a much more significant and widespread sand cat population in the ecosystem than previously understood. Sand cats were detected across one-third of the core area in all major habitats, comprising escarpment plateau, sand dunes and interdunal gravel valleys. The species showed a marginal preference for the interior parallel dune system with interspersed gravel valleys where they also preferred sand dunes over the gravel valley in the hot season. There was no evidence of strong spatial interactions with other predators. The ecosystem’s larger predators (Arabian red fox and honey badger, and all records of wild and feral cats) were primarily associated with the escarpment plateau. The smaller Rueppell’s fox was the only other carnivore more consistently present in the main dune system. Sand cats were strictly nocturnal and 14% more active in the hot season than the cool season.

The endangered golden‐rumped sengi are found only in Arabuko‐Sokoke Forest with 395.4 km² of forest habitat, and perhaps in a few isolated forest and thicket fragments of total area less than 30 km² all within central coastal Kenya. Understanding its habitat use is an important requirement to develop better conservation measures for the species and its remaining forest habitat. A more reliable method for monitoring its status is also needed. We used the Bayesian occupancy modelling with camera trap data and habitat mapping to characterise the species habitat use in the Arabuko‐Sokoke Forest. The species uses 328 km² (95% CI: 289–364 km²) of Arabuko‐Sokoke Forest habitat, and its site use increases with distance from forest edge, with the highest site use in the Cynometra thicket (0.93; 95% CI: 0.82–1). Its use of the mixed forest habitat has been significantly reduced following years of logging of Afzelia quanzensis. We recommend the use of modelled occupancy, interpreted as the proportion of area used by the species, to monitor the species status. Occupancy models account for detection probability, and heterogeneity in site use and detection can be incorporated. Estimated territory sizes can be combined to obtain abundance estimates.

Aim To assess the distribution and occurrence of addax (Addax nasomaculatus), the most critically endangered ungulate species globally, and dorcas gazelle (Gazelle dorcas), for which the ecology in the southern Sahara is virtually unknown. Location Tin Toumma desert, Niger Methods Integrating field surveys, collected over a 7-year period (2008–2014), with remote sensing-derived measures of vegetation productivity (NDVI) and surface roughness, we fit models in a generalized linear regression framework to predict and evaluate the occurrence of addax and dorcas gazelle. Results Addax declined significantly over the course of the study, strongly affecting the outcomes of our regression models. Other factors, namely surface roughness and the occurrence of the perennial grass Stipagrostis acutiflora, were important in predicting addax occurrence. Dorcas gazelle, inhabiting areas further to the south of our study area, were more positively associated with increases in vegetation productivity than addax. Both species were observed to have a strong negative response to human disturbance. Predictive models, relying only on remotely sensed derived variables, provided insight into areas of habitat suitability and highlighted niche partitioning across the Sahelo-Saharan biome. Main conclusions Our results provide improved insight into the factors contributing to the occurrence of this critically endangered (addax) and vulnerable (dorcas gazelle) species and may help guide future field surveys across the region to locate small and geographically isolated populations. Developing statistically based ecological habitat models provide a first-step towards improved management and policy development for the long-term conservation of these species and complement field surveys conducted across the region to monitor species that are increasingly being pushed to extinction.

One of the greatest challenges in restoring threatened species to the wild is insufficient knowledge about their habitat requirements and movement ecology. This is especially true for wide-ranging species such as the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Once widespread across Sahelo-Saharan grasslands, oryx were declared Extinct in the Wild in 1999. Here, we integrate GPS/satellite tracking, remote sensing, and gspatial analyses into a large reintroduction project to assess how captive-born oryx respond to wild conditions. We monitored two groups of oryx, reared under different management approaches and released in different seasons, for 12 months after release. Our study provides the first movement trajectories and home range estimates ever recorded for this species. We assessed how captive management methods, release timing, and local environmental conditions during and after release affected oryx movement behavior, survival, and fecundity. Post-release dispersal ranged from 2-90 km. Oryx raised under semi-free ranging conditions, which experienced a long acclimation period, and released during the wet season (“ranging”), moved 40-60 km from the release site. In contrast, oryx raised in smaller pens, with a short acclimation period, and released during the dry season (“penned”), remained within 5-25 km. We expected oryx movements after release to represent tradeoffs between risky, energetically expensive exploratory movements, and optimal resource exploitation. Ranging oryx exhibited this predicted pattern of exploration followed by home range establishment, while penned oryx explored less novel terrain and continuously returned to the release site where supplemental food and water were available. Ranging oryx also exhibited seasonal shifts in movement patterns, while penned oryx simply reduced overall movement. Our results demonstrate that captive management and environmental conditions at release strongly influence the rate and extent to which reintroduced oryx disperse and adapt to wild conditions. We also show that – in contrast to previous studies – longer acclimation periods do not always lead to greater site fidelity. Finally, our findings demonstrate the importance of tracking the largest possible proportion of reintroduced individuals in order to: (1) accurately record post-release behaviors and vital rates of a reintroduced population and (2) adaptively evaluate pre- and post-release management actions to improve conservation outcomes.

GPS collars have revolutionized the field of animal ecology, providing detailed information on animal movement and the habitats necessary for species survival. GPS collars also have the potential to cause adverse effects ranging from mild irritation to severe tissue damage, reduced fitness, and death. The impact of GPS collars on the behavior, stress, or activity, however, have rarely been tested on study species prior to release. The objective of our study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the short-term effects of GPS collars fitted on scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), an extinct-in-the-wild antelope once widely distributed across Sahelian grasslands in North Africa. We conducted behavioral observations, assessed fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), and evaluated high-resolution data from tri-axial accelerometers. Using a series of non-standard regression models, we illustrate clear but short-term effects to animals fitted with GPS collars. Behavioral observations highlighted a significant increase in the amount of headshaking from pre-treatment levels, returning below baseline levels during the post-treatment period (>3 days post-collaring). Similarly, FGM concentrations (i.e., stress hormones) increased after GPS collars were fitted on animals but returned to pre-collaring levels within 5 days of collaring. Lastly, tri-axial accelerometers, collecting data at eight positions per second, indicated a > 480 percent increase in the amount of hourly headshaking immediately after collaring. This post-collaring increase in headshaking was estimated to decline in magnitude within 4 hours after GPS collar fitting. These effects constitute a handling and/or habituation response (model dependent), with animals showing short-term responses in activity, behavior, and stress that dissipated within several hours to several days of being fitted with GPS collars. Importantly, none of our analyses indicated any long-term effects that would have more pressing animal welfare concerns.

The biodiversity of northern coastal Kenya, east of the Tana River, is poorlyunderstood because security problems and poor infrastructure have discouraged accessto the area. However, the wooded areas in the region have great potential forharbouring endemic and rare species, including sengis or elephant-shrews (orderMacroscelidea), especially giant sengis in the genus Rhynchocyon. Based on extensivecamera-trap surveys of the Boni-Dodori forest, east of the Tana River near theSomalia border, and the Arabuko-Sokoke forest west of the Tana River, the goldenrumpedsengi Rhynchocyon chrysopygus appears to be limited to the Arabuko-Sokokearea, while the giant sengi in the Boni-Dodori forest is different. The Boni-Dodoriforest, the largest Kenyan coastal forest, with a potential forest and thicket area of atleast 3000 km2 is likely to hold a significant number of Rhynchocyon, making it veryimportant to sengi conservation. The study generated over 2700 images of giant sengiand 32 000 camera-trap images of soft-furred sengi in a total surveyed area ofapproximately 300 km2 providing the first detailed 24-hour behaviour data for thespecies. The circadian patterns have confirmed R. chrysopygus and Boni Rhynchocyonto be strictly diurnal while the soft-furred sengi were mostly nocturnal. Occupancy forRhynchocyon was over 80 percent for both the Boni forest thicket and Arabuko-Sokoke Cynometra forest thicket. Occupancy and trapping rates for the soft-furred sengi were significantly higher for the Arabuko-Sokoke forest than the Boni-Dodori forest. It was not possible in the camera trap images to reliably differentiate between the two soft-furred sengi species, four-toed sengi Petrodromus tetradactylus and rufous sengi Elephantulus rufescens, known to occur in the area.Keywords: Macroscelidea, elephant-shrew, Rhynchocyon, abundance, distribution,activity pattern

There are two PFS for this article, one is the original article and the other is an Erratum specifying the errors in the original article. In comparison to other ecosystems in east Africa, the biodiversity of the coastal forests of Kenya’s northern coastline is poorly documented, even in the case of large terrestrial mammals. In response to this, we undertook a systematic survey of the Boni-Dodori forests using four camera trap grids with camera spacing of 2 km covering 300 km 2 over 7020 camera trap days. We recorded 37 mammal species and derived camera trap rates and estimated occupancy for 31 medium-to-large terrestrial species, some of which represent range extensions. Remarkably, the critically endangered Aders’ duiker was the most frequently recorded species. A distinctive form of giant sengi and the vulnerable Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose were also widely distributed and relatively abundant. Other significant records of threatened species included African wild dog, African lion and Pousargues’s monkey. Species richness and relative abundance of all species were higher than that recorded for Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya’s only other large coastal forest, using the same camera trap survey protocol. Keywords : Boni-Dodori forest, coastal forest, camera trapping, mammals, species richness, trap rates, occupancy

Three species of suids occur on the broad coastal plain of Kenya east and north of the Tana River; desert warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus, common warthog Phacochoerus africanus, and bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus. Systematic cameratrap surveys, comprising 9229 camera-trap days on grids at six study sites, were used to determine the distribution and relative abundance of these three suids in the Boni- Dodori Forest Complex (ca. 4000 km²) and in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve (416 km²) on Kenya’s north and central coasts, respectively. In the Boni-Dodori Forest Complex, desert warthog was captured at one camera site, common warthog at four camera sites, and bushpig at 33 camera sites. In Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, only bushpig was captured (seven camera sites). Sympatry of desert warthog and common warthog seems limited in the Boni-Dodori Forest Complex. Here, desert warthog appears to be narrowly sympatric with bushpig whereas common warthog is broadly sympatric with bushpig. Sympatry of the three suids in this region was not previously reported. This sympatry is absent in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve.Keywords: desert warthog, common warthog, bushpig, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, Phacochoerus africanus, Potamochoerus larvatus

Aders’ duiker Cephalophus adersi is a critically endangered small antelope endemic to the coastal forests of east Africa. Threatened by habitat loss and hunting, the species was until recently known to persist only on Zanzibar, Tanzania, and in the Arabuko-Sokoke National Reserve, Kenya. However, more recent observations, have confirmed the occurrence of Aders’ duiker in Kenyan coastal forests north of the Tana River. This paper reports systematic camera trapping results for three sites in the Boni–Dodori coastal forest system north of the Tana and the only other known mainland site for Aders’ duiker, the Arabuko-Sokoke forest. From a total survey effort of 5,723 camera trap days, we demonstrated that the known area of occurrence for Aders’ duiker has more than doubled with occupancy values at or close to 100 % for all three northern sites. An index of relative abundance for Aders’ duiker was also one to two orders of magnitude greater at these sites compared to Arabuko-Sokoke. Application of a replicate count N-mixture model to camera trap data from Boni National Reserve resulted in an estimate of 7.3 Aders’ duikers/km2 (95 % CI 4.5–10.1/km2). The results also indicate higher densities of suni Nesotragus moschatus and Harvey’s duiker Cephalophus harveyi in the northern forests relative to Arabuko-Sokoke. Blue duiker Philantomba monticola was recorded at low density in Arabuko-Sokoke forest but not detected at the northern sites. These findings significantly improve the conservation prospects for Aders’ duiker and highlight the global importance of the northern coastal forests of Kenya.

The Sokoke dog or bushy-tailed mongoose Bdeogale omnivora is poorly known and considered to be endemic to the East African coastal forests. Systematic camera trap surveys, comprising 9229 camera trap days on grids at six study sites, were used to determine the distribution and relative abundance of the Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose in the two largest Kenyan coastal forests: Boni-Dodori Forest Complex (ca. 4000 km²); and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve (416 km²). This species was captured in all surveyed forests with significantly more detections in Brachystegia woodland habitat ( ca . 71 km 2 ) of Arabuko-Sokoke and the Boni forest sectors (ca. 2000 km 2 ) of the Boni-Dodori Forest Complex. Boni-Dodori Forest Complex, with an estimated occupancy of over 60% for this species, holds a significant population. The study generated over 1000 images of the Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose in a total surveyed area of approximately 500 km 2 providing the first 24-hour activity data for the species. The circadian patterns confirm this species to be strictly nocturnal. This study strongly recommends that its Red List status remains ‘Vulnerable’. The few remaining coastal forests continue to face human pressure. Recent proposals to find and extract hydrocarbons from under the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and the planned major development close to Boni-Dodori Forest Complex, raise serious conservation concerns for this exceptionally biodiverse ecosystem. Keywords: Arabuko-Sokoke forest, Boni forest, Dodori forest, camera trap, status, Bdeogale omnivora

Biodiversity hotspots understandably attract considerable conservation attention. However, deserts are rarely viewed as conservation priority areas, due to their relatively low productivity, yet these systems are home to unique species, adapted to harsh and highly variable environments. While global attention has been focused on hotspots, the world's largest tropical desert, the Sahara, has suffered a catastrophic decline in megafauna. Of 14 large vertebrates that have historically occurred in the region, four are now extinct in the wild, including the iconic scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). The majority has disappeared from more than 90% of their Saharan range, including addax (Addax nasomaculatus), dama gazelle (Nanger dama) and Saharan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) - all now on the brink of extinction. Greater conservation support and scientific attention for the region might have helped to avert these catastrophic declines. The Sahara serves as an example of a wider historical neglect of deserts and the human communities who depend on them. The scientific community can make an important contribution to conservation in deserts by establishing baseline information on biodiversity and developing new approaches to sustainable management of desert species and ecosystems. Such approaches must accommodate mobility of both people and wildlife so that they can use resources most efficiently in the face of low and unpredictable rainfall. This is needed to enable governments to deliver on their commitments to halt further degradation of deserts and to improve their status for both biodiversity conservation and human well-being. Only by so-doing will deserts be able to support resilient ecosystems and communities that are best able to adapt to climate change. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Habitat evaluation is considered an essential step for assessing the potential for an area to support a viable reintroduced population. Remote sensing techniques can support such investigations, by greatly enhancing the temporal and spatial coverage of habitat assessments. This study makes use of freely available earth observation data to evaluate the suitability of the Ouadi Rime–Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in central Chad for the reintroduction of the Scimitar-horned Oryx. The reserve was the last stronghold of the species within its historical range, prior to extinction in the wild in the 1980s, providing a basis for reintroduction. Results show that since the 1980s, there has been a steady increase in average annual precipitation and satellite-derived estimates of primary production. The spatial downscaling of the average trend in primary production showed that the north of the protected area exhibited a drying trend over the period 1982–2008, while the south was associated with intense greening. As a result, the subdesert transition zone preferred by oryx is currently narrowing. If this is correct, this implies a potential reduction of favourable habitat for the oryx, which could have detrimental effects on the success of establishing a self-sustaining reintroduced population. Resume On estime qu'une evaluation de l'habitat est une etape essentielle pour estimer quel potentiel a une region de supporter une population reintroduite viable. Les techniques de detection a distance peuvent aider lors de ces investigations en augmentant fortement la couverture temporelle et spatiale de l'evaluation d'habitats. Cette etude utilise des donnees d'observations terrestres librement accessibles pour evaluer si la Reserve de Faune d'Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim, au centre du Tchad, est propice a la reintroduction de l'oryx algazelle. La reserve etait le dernier bastion de l'espece dans son aire de repartition historique avant son extinction a l'etat sauvage dans les annees 1980, ce qui donne un fondement a cette reintroduction. Les resultats montrent que, depuis les annees 1980, il y a eu une forte augmentation des precipitations annuelles moyennes et des estimations de production primaire derivees des donnees satellites. La reduction spatiale de la tendance moyenne de la production primaire montre que le nord de l'aire protegee presentait une tendance a l'aridification entre 1982 et 2008 alors que le sud etait plutot associe a un reverdissement intense. Par consequent, la zone de transition subdesertique preferee des oryx est actuellement en voie de reduction. Si ceci est exact, cela signifie une possible reduction de l'habitat favorable aux oryx, ce qui pourrait avoir un effet negatif sur la reussite de l'etablissement d'une population reintroduite autosuffisante.

Observations de vautours dans la zone sahelienne au Tchad et au Niger. Nous presentons un resume de l’ensemble des observations de vautours obtenues lors d’inventaires sur la faune sauvage effectues entre 2010 et debut 2013 au Niger oriental et au centre du Tchad. Ces inventaires n’etaient pas restreints aux routes, ni destines en premier lieu au suivi des rapaces, ce qui signifie que la comparaison avec des estimations precedentes est limitee. Toutefois, la totalite des frequences d’observations de vautours (oiseaux / 100 km) est tout a fait similaire a celles citees pour le Sahel occidental en 2004. Le Vautour de Ruppell Gyps rueppelli est l’espece la plus souvent observee ; des exemples de nidification arboricole de cette espece et du Vautour oricou Torgos tracheliotos dans de nombreux endroits du Sahel sont donnes. L’importance des aires protegees saheliennes pour les populations reproductrices de ces deux especes est documentee et la forte exposition des vautours a la pression anthropique et leur contribution au niveau des services ecosystemiques sont evoquees. Par ailleurs, des informations essentielles sont fournies sur les frequences d’observations actuelles de vautours, qui sont en principe reproductibles a l’avenir. Summary. We present a summary of all vulture encounters during a series of wildlife surveys conducted in eastern Niger and central Chad, between 2010 and early 2013. These surveys were not restricted to roads and not designed primarily for raptor surveys, so comparaison with earlier estimates is limited, but overall vulture encounter rates (birds / 100 km) were broadly similar to those reported in the western Sahel in 2004. Ruppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli was the most frequently observed species and examples of treenesting by this species and Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos in widely separated parts of the Sahel are summarised. The importance of Sahelian protected areas for breeding populations of these two species is documented, the strong exposure of vultures to human influence and their contribution to ecosystem services are discussed, while baseline information on current vulture observation rates, in principle repeatable in the future, is provided.

Conservation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is relatively young, yet have made considerable gains in conservation through strategic proclamation and reintroductions. Changes in land use, illegal hunting and competition with domestic stock has decimated the native ungulates, meaning that the survival of the native ungulate species is now completely dependent on protected area network. The challenge is to sustain this network to make meaningful conservation impact into the future. We review the status of ungulate conservation in Saudi Arabia and highlight that the conservation strategy is well developed. The major challenge faced in conservation in Saudi Arabia now is to implement what has been sanctioned.

Aders’ duiker Cephalophus adersi is a small antelope endemic to the coastal forests of east Africa. Threatened by habitat loss and hunting, the species is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Until recently Aders’ duiker was known to persist only on Zanzibar, Tanzania, and in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest National Reserve, Kenya. However, in 2004 a sighting of a single individual was reported from the Dodori forest in northern coastal Kenya, raising the possibility that the species survives elsewhere. Subsequently, an opportunistic camera-trap survey was conducted in September and October 2008 to establish the occurrence of Aders’ duiker in Kenyan coastal forests north of the Tana River. One hundred and fifty six images of Aders’ duikers were obtained from 12 of 28 camera-trap sites (46 of 358 camera-trap days), confirming the existence of a population of Aders’ duiker in the Boni–Dodori forest both inside and outside the National Reserves. In addition, we sighted individuals of the species on three occasions. The relatively high encounter rates per unit effort compared to similar data from Arabuko-Sokoke forest suggest the Boni–Dodori population is significant. Initial surveys of the local Awer community revealed that Aders’ duiker is well known by the name guno. These findings significantly improve the conservation prospects for Aders’ duiker and highlight the need for greater research and management efforts in the poorly known Boni–Dodori forest.

Increasing conflicts and social insecurity are expected to accelerate biodiversity decline and escalate illegal wildlife killing. Sahara‐Sahel megafauna has experienced recent continuous decline due to unsustainable hunting pressure. Here, we provide the best available data on distribution and population trends of threatened, large vertebrates, to illustrate how escalating regional conflict (565% growth since 2011) is hastening population decline in areas that were formerly refugia for megafauna. Without conservation action, the unique and iconic biodiversity of Earth's largest desert will be forever lost. We recommend: (1) establishing strong commitments for change in global attitude toward nature; (2) engraining a culture of environmental responsibility among all stakeholders; (3) fostering environmental awareness to drive societal change; (4) reinforcing regional security and firearms control; and (5) implementing local research and wildlife monitoring schemes. We identify relevant international partners needed to tackle these challenges and to make strong policy change for biodiversity conservation and regional stability.

The Barbary sheep or aoudad Ammotragus lervia is widely distributed in the mountains of the Sahara and North Africa. The 2000 IUCN Red List assessment of the Egyptian subspecies A. l. ornata categorized this taxon as Extinct in the Wild. We present new evidence, collected during 1997–2000, that this subspecies is extant in both the extreme south-east and south-west of Egypt, and reassess the status of captive aoudad in Egypt. We recommend that the category of A. l. ornata on the IUCN Red List be changed to Critically Endangered, that conservation of wild aoudad in Egypt be prioritized, and that the subspecific status of both the wild and captive stocks in Egypt be reassessed.

The identification of taxonomically appropriate populations of endangered species for captive breeding and reintroduction programs is fundamental to the success of those programs. The Saudi gazelle ( Gazella saudiya) was endemic to the Arabian peninsula but is now considered extinct in the wild and is potentially a candidate for captive breeding and reintroduction. Using 375 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene derived from museum samples collected from the wild prior to the presumed extinction of this species, we show that G. saudiya is the sister taxon of the African dorcas gazelle ( G. dorcas). Reciprocal monophyly of G. saudiya mtDNA haplotypes with G. dorcas, coupled with morphological distinctiveness, suggests that it is an evolutionarily significant unit. These data indicate that captive populations identified previously as potential sources of G. saudiya for captive breeding appear incorrectly designated and are irrelevant to the conservation of G. saudiya. The polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) analysis of several private collections of living gazelles in Saudi Arabia provides no evidence for the survival of G. saudiya. We recommend that field surveys be undertaken to establish whether G. saudiya is indeed extinct in the wild and that other private collections within the Arabian peninsula be screened genetically. We urge caution when captive animals of unknown provenance are used to investigate the phylogenetics of cryptic species groups. Resumen: La identificacion de poblaciones taxonomicamente apropiadas de especies en peligro para programas de reproduccion en cautiverio y de reintroduccion es fundamental para su exito. La Gacela Saudi (Gazella saudiya) fue endemica a la peninsula de Arabia pero ahora esta considerada como extinta en su medio y es un candidato potencial para reproduccion en cautiverio y reintroduccion. Utilizando 375 pares de bases de ADN mitocondrial (ADNmt) del gene citocromo b derivados de muestras de museos colectadas en el medio silvestre antes de la extincion de la especie, mostramos que G. saudiya es el taxon hermano de la gacela dorcas africana (G. dorcas). La monofilia reciproca de haplotipos de ADNmt de G. saudiya con G. dorcas, aunado a diferencias morfologicas, sugiere que es una unidad evolutiva significativa. Estos datos indican que las poblaciones cautivas identificadas previamente como fuente potencial de G. saudiya para reproduccion en cautiverio estan incorrectamente identificadas y son irrelevantes para la conservacion de G. saudiya. El analisis PCR-RFLP de varias colecciones privadas de gacelas vivas en Arabia Saudita no proporcionan evidencia para la supervivencia de G. saudiya. Recomendamos que se realicen muestreos en el campo para establecer si en efecto G. saudiya esta extinta en su habitat y que se examinen geneticamente las otras colecciones privadas en la peninsula Arabiga. Recomendamos precaucion cuando animales cautivos de origen desconocido son utilizados para investigar la filogenia de grupos de especies cripticas.

Since WWII motorised hunting and motorised water and artificial fodder supply for domestic stock have increased the range and numbers of domestic stock and consequently the competition for food with gazelle. Although reem were once widespread and even abundant throughout Saudi Arabia their future was already debated by Wilfred Thesiger during his epic trek through the Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia in 1947-48. A dramatic decrease during the 1970’s and 1980’s was noted in the wild with the most recent total population estimated to be fewer than 10 000 individuals and estimates for Saudi Arabia ranging between 2650 and 3050 animals in four populations (Al-Khunfah, Harrat al-Harrah, Mahazat as-Sayd and Uruq Bani Ma’arid (IUCN 2008). Materials and methods

Assessing the biodiversity of a region, particularly when it includes rare, cryptic and nocturnal species, is notoriously difficult but nevertheless of great importance, especially in regions that have received little prior research interest. Species in these regions are often only perceived to be present through the identification of animal signs such as scat or hair. Here we show how molecular techniques can be used to sequence mitochondrial DNA extracted from the scat of essentially unknown carnivore species and thus assess the species present in a remote desert region in southern Algeria. In doing so we present a reliable and reproducible method for determining carnivore biodiversity through non-invasive sampling. We also identify two species of large carnivore in an area where one, the cheetah Acinonyx jubatus, is known to exist but at very low densities, and another, the leopard Panthera pardus, has never previously been observed.