Conservation of scimitar-horned oryx & their arid steppe habitat in Tunisia 2020 - Marwell Zoo
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Conservation of scimitar-horned oryx & their arid steppe habitat in Tunisia 2020 A report for the scimitar-horned oryx EEP Marie Petretto Conservation Biologist, Tunisia Programme Tania Gilbert International Studbook Keeper for Scimitar-horned Oryx Philip Riordan Head of Conservation Biology, Marwell Wildlife
Citation: Petretto, M., Gilbert, T & Riordan, P. (2020) Conservation of scimitar-horned oryx & their arid steppe habitat in Tunisia: A report for the scimitar-horned oryx EEP. Marwell Wildlife, U.K. Cover photograph: Scimitar-horned oryx in Dghoumes National Park, Tunisia. Photograph by Marie Petretto, Marwell Wildlife, with camera-trap BUSHNELL trophy cam. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Dublin Zoo, Safari Parc Monde Sauvage, Parco Faunistico Le Cornelle, Wroclaw Zoo and the Sahara Conservation Fund for their ongoing and generous support. As always, we appreciate the unwavering collaboration and hospitality of our friends and colleagues at the Direction Générale des Forêts, (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Tunisia), and the Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole (CDRA) of Tozeur, Kebili, Medenine, Tataouine, Sidi Bouzid and Gafsa. We are especially grateful to our team in Tunisia: Amira Saidi, Mohamed Khalil Meliane and Abdelkader Chetoui
Foreword
M
arwell Wildlife started working on aridland conservation in the 1980s, when the
Tunisian government revised its Forest Code, signed the Convention on Migratory
Species and the Convention of Biological Diversity, and started creating a network of
protected areas. Today, nearly 485,000 hectares in the Sahelo-Saharan ecoregion is protected
in eight National Parks (NP) and Reserves (NR). The protected areas are dedicated to the
reintroduction of emblematic species, such as the scimitar-horned oryx and addax, that are
locally or globally extinct.
Marwell Wildlife’s initial focus in the country was the reintroduction of scimitar-horned oryx
(SHO) Oryx dammah, but in the following 30+ years we have worked closely with our Tunisian
partners, the Direction Générale des Forêts (DGF), in the restoration and conservation of
several key species their arid-land ecosystem. In 2020, Marwell Wildlife and the DGF renewed
the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that formalises our partnership and provides the
framework for our continuing activities to conserve Tunisian biodiversity.
Whilst, our work includes the conservation of several key species and their habitats, the
monitoring and management of the reintroduced SHO populations remains our core activity and
we work in close collaboration with our Tunisian colleagues in Dghoumes NP, Bou Hedma NP,
Sidi Toui NP and Oued Dekouk NR. We have also been working closely with the management
team at Haddej, a separate area in Bou Hedma NP, that currently have SHO. We have built
considerable knowledge of SHO and its habitat to better understand the factors that impact
long-term reintroduction success.
Our commitments
estoring populations to the wild and conserving their habitats are challenging activities
R that require the long-term commitment that Marwell Wildlife is making. Having a team
on the ground in Tunisia enables on-going and adaptive monitoring so we can remain
alert to problems and learn from successes. Conducting research and embedding
robust monitoring protocols with local teams means that we can understand, and respond to,
the underlying drivers of large herbivore survival and the use of their habitats. This work is
linked to efforts to restore these ecosystems and reverse land degradation, providing benefits
for local communities that will lead to sustainable co-existence with wildlife. In our over three
decades of SHO conservation in Tunisia, we have gained considerable expertise in
reintroduction, monitoring and management techniques for the species and their habitat, and
we continue to share expertise and knowledge with both our national and international
colleagues, as well as the teams within the parks and reserves.
In 2019/2020, thanks to the generous support of the EEP and our other international partners,
we made some progress against our project objectives, despite the interruption caused by the
global Covid-19 pandemic. Members of our Tunisia team were able to conduct limited
fieldwork, although many of our activities were curtailed. Covid-19 will continue to impact on our
activities until the pandemic is managed, but we will continue with our conservation efforts
within the limits of government restrictions.
1 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020
Find out more about our annual review of charitable activities and impacts at
https://www.marwell.org.uk/conservation/achievements/our-achievements: in our
annual report, we share highlights of our work to restore nature, promote sustainable living
and help catalyse changes needed to improve the fortunes of people,
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYXwildlife and the wider
EEP REPORT 2020 | 2
environment.
3 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020
Contents
Foreword 1
Our commitments 1
Background 5
Tunisian strategy for Sahelo-Saharan conservation 5
Monitoring of scimitar-horned oryx and the wider environment 7
Implementing standardised monitoring protocols 7
The scimitar-horned oryx population 9
Oryx recruited giant bodyguards 10
Evaluating the predation pressure 12
Population management and genetic diversity monitoring 13
Disease risk and the One Health concept 15
Habitat restoration and biodiversity surveys 17
Seasonal surveys 17
Camera-trap surveys 18
Wider activities 19
Sharing experiences, networking and supporting 20
our Tunisian colleagues
Park staff training, teamwork and networking 20
Higher education 21
Welcoming a keeper from Dublin Zoo 22
International meeting on Sahelo-Saharan conservation 24
EAZA conferences and meetings 25
Proposed activities for 2021 and beyond 26
Activities for 2021 27
Costs and funding proposal 28
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 4
Background
Tunisian strategy for Sahelo-
Saharan conservation
T
he Tunisian conservation strategy relies on a number of
partially fenced protected areas that maintain a
metapopulation1 of scimitar-horned oryx (SHO) Oryx dammah
in similar conditions to their free-ranging ancestors. In common with
+ many countries, Tunisia faces the challenge of providing large-
30 years
enough areas of continuous habitat to support self-sustainable
populations of large-bodied aridland antelope. More than 30-years of
post-release monitoring and the analysis of ecological trends and
habitat carrying capacity tells us that the existing protected areas
alone will be insufficient to achieve the goal of restoring viable SHO
since the first populations in Tunisia. Consequently, we must address the
scimitar-horned anthropogenic threats that prevent the release of SHO from
oryx were protected areas into the wider landscape. A metapopulation strategy
released into that connects the landscapes between populations, is the most
their natural pragmatic option available for the long-term future of this species in
habitat in Tunisia.
Tunisia
_______________ The current approach to SHO management in Tunisia is an
intermediate step before fully free-ranging herds can be re-
established.
Our long-term vision is that of self-sustainable populations of SHO
moving freely across large areas of contiguous habitat. While
assessing the suitability of possible unfenced release sites in
Tunisia, Marwell Wildlife and the Direction Générale des Forêts
(DGF) are working together to recreate natural species assemblages
through management interventions across the network of protected
areas. The result of this work is already informing similar projects in
other areas.
One of our priorities remains increasing in-country expertise in
wildlife and habitat management in collaboration with established
Tunisian academic and research institutions, including the: Institute
of Veterinary Research of Tunis (IRVT); Institut Pasteur of Tunis;
Centre of Animal Health Surveillance (CNVZ); National Veterinary
School of Sidi Thabet; Science Faculty of Tunis; and Aridland
Institute of Medenine (IRA). Specifically, we are supervising Tunisian
students during their field study in completion of an Ecology Master’s
degree and PhDs. Our Tunisia-based staffs are also participating in
national conferences, meetings, and scientific committees to raise
awareness on the wider aspects of SHO conservation initiatives.
1
A metapopulation is group of populations of the same species that are spatially
separated but linked to varying degrees allowing movement of individuals between
them. Whilst occurring naturally under conditions of habitat discontinuity, they are
relevant to conservation efforts where populations are separated for reasons of
human intervention, such as protected areas and ex-situ management. The
resilience of metapopulations, and the long-term survival of those species, is reliant
on the movement of individuals and genetic exchange.
5 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020
Tunisia is committed to biodiversity and wildlife conservation and is a
5
signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the
Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES). The scimitar-horned oryx remains a
priority species along with other aridland antelopes and gazelles:
addax, dama gazelle, Cuvier’s gazelle, slender-horned gazelle and
other emblematic
species dorcas gazelle. Today, nearly 485,000 hectares of protected natural
landscapes dedicated to the reintroduction of locally or globally
of the Sahara extinct emblematic species are included within the Sahelo-Saharan
are benefitting ecoregion.
from the
reintroduction
of the scimitar- In 2020, Marwell Wildlife and the Direction Générale
horned oryx in des Forêts (DGF) of Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture,
in Tunisia Fisheries and Water Resources renewed the
_______________ collaboration agreement with a focus on improving the
connectivity between protected areas within the existing
protected area network.
The monitoring and management of the
reintroduced SHO populations remains our core
activity and we work in close collaboration with our
Tunisian colleagues in Dghoumes NP, Bou Hedma
NP, Haddej NP, Sidi Toui NP and Oued Dekouk
NR. We have built considerable knowledge of SHO
and its habitat to better understand the factors that
impact long-term reintroduction success. The
methodology develop throughout this project has
been replicated to the reintroduction of the North
African ostriches Struthio camelus camelus and the
Addax desert antelope Addax nasomaculatus.
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 6
Restoring NATURE.
Monitoring of scimitar-horned oryx
and the wider environment
Implementing standardised
monitoring protocols
he Tunisian network of protected areas that houses re-
4 T
protected areas
established populations of SHO provides a unique opportunity
to increase the chances of successful full return to the wild of
this ‘extinct-in-the-wild’ Saharan ungulate. These populations
now only consist of animals born and raised within their natural
habitat in the parks in Tunisia. The information systematically
dedicated to the collected in Tunisia over the past decades is vital for planning further
reintroduction of releases.
the scimitar-
horned oryx in its The independent management of the four protected areas, where
natural habitat biodiversity and antelope populations are monitored by standardised
_______________ protocols, offer a chance to compare the impact of various
management factors on SHO population performance and contribute
to a better understanding of the species’ needs.
Marie Petretto, our Tunisian Programme Manager, has been working
in close collaboration with the Tunisian staff in each of the four
protected areas for the last nine years. The monitoring protocols that
Marwell and the DGF initially tested in Dghoumes NP are being
replicated in the other parks and reserves. Consequently, in addition
to the demographic data (births and deaths) routinely recorded by the
park managers and their staff, basic surveys on social structure and
habitat use are performed, enabling us to gain knowledge on the SHO
and their wider environment over the different seasons. Since 2018,
thanks to the generous support of Marwell’s partners, we have been
able to bring enough camera-traps to be placed every 2km and
continuously record wildlife activities within Dghoumes and Bou
Hedma NP, but also further south, in the pre-Saharan steppe of Jbil
NP: this monitoring tool brings unprecedented data about the aridland
biodiversity in North Africa and helps us to better understand the
interspecific relationships that underpin the SHO reestablishment
v success.
NEXT PAGE
Aerial view of a
Scimitar-horned oryx
herd in the pre- In 2020, while the pandemic has limited the ability of Marwell’s
Saharan savannah Tunisian-based team to extensively work in the field, we continued
of Bou Hedma NP monitoring activities in the Tunisian protected areas. We continue to
focus on the behaviour of SHO, their predators and competition for
resources. In October 2020, we placed 25 camera-traps in Sidi Toui
NP that will allow direct comparison of the impact of management
approaches with Dghoumes NP.
7 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020
Monitoring of SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX
health of the ecosystems in Dghoumes and Bou Hedma NP.
Photo : Paschal Cassidy, The Moondance
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 8Restoring NATURE.
The scimitar-horned oryx
population
300 A
s predicted by our research on SHO and their environment,
the population growth rate has started to slow down. This is a
natural effect when the maximum density of animals, or
carrying capacity, of an area is reached. The population growth rate is
partially determined by various ecological resources including the
Scimitar-horned availability of food, areas to rest, or habitat that reduces the chances
oryx of predation. Disturbance and competition can detrimentally impact on
The national reproductive success, as heightened vigilance and competition for
population resources expends more energy leaving less to spend on
estimate reproduction.
_______________
Birth and death rates remain one of the best indicators of population
sustainability and habitat quality for the species. The population sizes
in each protected area are now such that it is increasingly unlikely
that we have successfully counted all SHO in each census. Some
animals hide in mountains or pockets of thick vegetation, and so we
try to track the number of calves, juveniles and sub-adults observed
from one year to the next to maintain consistency.
We estimate the Tunisian metapopulation at nearly 300 individuals
representing a growth rate of approximately 10% since last year. The
SHO population in Dghoumes NP fluctuates around 100 individuals,
the approximate capacity for the park. Sidi Toui NP holds 74 animals,
whilst Oued Dekouk NR has 53, and Bou Hedma NP has nearly 40.
Approximately 25 SHO are still in Haddej NP, a separate fenced area
of Bou Hedma NP dedicated to addax conservation. We had hoped to
translocate these prior to the pandemic but practical constraints mean
that these animals will remain in Haddej for the moment.
This year, all SHO populations have experienced successful
reproduction with a high calf survival rate, resulting in approximately
40 surviving calves across the metapopulation. We are particularly
pleased that the management solutions implemented in Bou Hedma
NP have successfully reversed the trend of poor calf survival in the
last few years.
140
120
Dghoumes NP
100
> 80
Bou Hedma NP
RIGHT
Sidi Toui NP
SHO population 60
Oued Dekouk NR
growth in the four 40
main Tunisian Bou Hedma NP
protected areas since 20
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9 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Restoring NATURE.
Oryx have recruited giant
bodyguards!
I
n our previous reports, we shared our concerns about the high
predation pressure observed in Bou Hedma NP. Whilst some SHO
calf losses are expected in a fully functioning ecosystem, poor calf
survival slows the progress of restoring a species to the wild. Our
team in Tunisia, along with the staff in Bou Hedma NP, conducted
several studies to evaluate African golden wolf (Canis lupaster)
density and behaviour, SHO behaviour and health, and how habitat
features in the park might facilitate predation. Comparisons between
Bou Hedma NP and other Tunisian parks led to several hypotheses,
and further research, to account for the high calf predation rates:
the reintroduced SHO may express insufficient anti-predator behaviours;
proximity of visitors to the SHO herds in Bou Hedma NP may cause a
high level of disturbance resulting in chronic stress;
^ there are a large number of predators;
ABOVE the wolves in and around Bou Hedma NP have developed specific
The North African pack hunting strategies that enable them to target larger prey such as
ostriches (Struthio SHO calves;
camelus camelus) SHO may be more susceptible to predation due to chronic disease;
have been there is a lack of alternative prey in Bou Hedma NP.
reintroduced in the
SHO habitat in Bou Broader biodiversity surveys indicated an abundance of alternative
Hedma NP prey, and health screening of SHO did not reveal chronic disease in
the Bou Hedma NP population, leading us to reject those hypotheses.
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 10Restoring NATURE.
The wolf density is estimated as higher than other protected areas
and they do preferentially hunt SHO and gazelles. Building on these
results, the number of visitors allowed in the park has been
significantly reduced. This has not only benefitted the SHO but it also
facilitated the return of the endemic North-African ostriches to Bou
Hedma NP. This reintroduction was part of the national ostrich
conservation project and contributes to the objective to restore
functioning ecosystems for SHO. It was fascinating to see how the
flock (two adults and six juveniles) introduced in October 2019 has
started grazing alongside the SHO herd. One year after their release
into the savannah of Bou Hedma NP, they have not only adapted
successfully to their home, but we have observed a reduction in the
number of wolves in close proximity to the SHO and all 10 SHO
V calves born in 2020 have survived.
BELOW
The striped hyena’s We think that the introduction of this naturally gregarious giant bird
(Hyena hyena) together with the reduction in human disturbance has induced a
occasional presence change in the predators’ feeding strategy. The continued biodiversity
in SHO habitat has monitoring indicates that the number of wolves in Bou Hedma NP
been recorded via the have not decreased, but now that SHO calves are harder to target,
continuing camera- the wolves may have diversified their prey base to include the large
trap monitoring in population of wild boars (Sus scrofa) that live in the area. Wider
Dghoumes NP biodiversity restoration and monitoring are crucial to ensuring the
long-term success of the SHO reintroduction projects.
Photo : ©Joe D asher
11 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Restoring NATURE.
Evaluating predation pressure
P
redation has always been recognised as a significant modifier
of population growth rates for reintroduced ungulates. Our
ongoing research into carnivore ecology and behaviour in the
Tunisian protected areas with SHO indicates substantial differences
in predation pressure between parks. The African golden wolf is
widespread and known for opportunistically hunting young SHO. Our
continuing camera-trap surveys are a useful tool that enables us to
monitor predator distribution and activity, and even though this
research is in its early stages, it is already helping us to better
understand population dynamics in these parks (see p.14).
Photo :Tom Lewis, Bushnell camera-trap
>
RIGHT
The African golden
wolf is the main
predator in North
Africa, known to
opportunistically
hunt small
ungulates, yet very
little is known about
its ecology and
behaviour
In addition to the routine monitoring of SHO herds, our Tunisian
colleagues from the protected areas maintain a high level of anti-
poaching vigilance.
In 2020, we were able to confirm, for the first time, the
occurrence of the stripped hyena Hyena hyena in
Dghoumes NP. This cryptic animal is known to occur
further north, in the mountain landscapes near the Algerian
border, but its presence was only anecdotally reported in
the Tunisian aridlands. The continuing camera-trap
monitoring has provided a unique opportunity to catch a
glimpse of this very shy species. According to our
observations, it has a broad range and occurs in small
numbers in the harsh pre-Saharan habitat.
Whilst the striped hyaena is assumed to be present across
Tunisia, it has declined due to persecution as a result of
human-wildlife conflict or superstition. Most contemporary
observations are of hyena carcasses.
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 12Restoring NATURE.
Population management and
genetic diversity monitoring
10 S
cimitar-horned oryx populations have been re-established in
Bou Hedma, Sidi Toui and Dghoumes NPs and Oued Dekouk
NR, with a further group in Haddej, hopefully soon to be
years translocated. Each release has been sourced with different founders
and is geographically isolated from the next nearest population with
Interval between
no existing natural migration routes. The current population size of
each genetic
SHO in each protected area is between 40-100 individuals, and in
diversity
isolation, all are too small to be considered sustainable over the long-
assessment
term. This necessitates wider metapopulation management to ensure
Monitoring the long-term persistence.
genetic diversity
of the SHO To address this issue, we have genetically sampled the Tunisian
metapopulation metapopulation using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA with our project
provides key-data partners at the WildGenes Laboratory of the Royal Zoological Society
to evaluate of Scotland (see report 2012). We have fed these data into Population
population Viability Analysis (PVA) models to project the impact of different
viability and plan management decisions on population persistence and retention of
wildlife genetic diversity within individual populations and across the Tunisian
management metapopulation. We hope to repeat this genetic evaluation
_______________ approximately every 10-years so we can evaluate the change in
genetic diversity over time and obtain up-to-date genetic data to use
in management plans. Depending on the current global situation, we
hope to conduct the next sampling operation in the near future.
The proposed metapopulation management strategy requires
additional translocations of SHO between protected areas. Wildlife
translocations, complying with the IUCN guidelines, necessitate
handling animals for preliminary health screening, transport and post-
release monitoring.
As widely recognised by the conservation practitioners, individual
capture is a risky, time-consuming and expensive. It is also limited by
the physiological conditions of the target individual (e.g. health, age,
pregnancy etc) as well as some logistic factors (habitat features,
operator and availability of veterinary supplies). As these are wild
populations, it is not desirable to habituate SHO to people to enable
darting for anaesthesia.
While planning the SHO genetic census, we adapted biopsy darting
techniques to mitigate the impact of the operation on individuals and
the herds. As a result, we identified that quick and collective manual
restraint would reduce stress and minimise physical after-effects
compared to chemical restraint.
>
NEXT PAGE In 2020, we have started planning the next genetic monitoring event
running SHO caught of the Tunisia SHO metapopulation. According to the post-release
by a Bushnell
monitoring plan, we hope to sample the population again in 2022-
camera-trap in
Dghoumes NP 2023. Building on our previous experience in SHO (2012) and addax
Addax nasomaculatus (2017), we are in the process of identifying and
sourcing the required resources.
13 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Restoring NATURE. SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 14
Restoring NATURE.
Disease risks and the One
Health concept
63 H
ealth monitoring is a core activity of SHO population
monitoring. Thanks to generous support of donors, we have
been able to establish a programme that includes visual
% assessments of body condition along with opportunistic collection of
blood and parasite samples, and post-mortem examinations of
of Tunisian
carcasses. We have also committed to train the guards in all
livestock is
protected areas to implement best practice. This last year was a good
produced in the
opportunity to evaluate their skills as we had to limit our in-country
central and
travels. Despite the substantial logistical challenges, all the
southern parts of
stakeholders are engaged in detecting problems in a timely manner.
the country
a risk for Reintroduction carries a risk of infectious disease transmission
pathogen between SHO and livestock, and potentially humans, which could
transmission in have negative consequences for health, conservation and food
aridlands security. We are therefore not only looking at the health condition of
_______________ the SHO but also working toward the identification and mitigation of
pathogen transmission risks. Very little is known about wildlife
susceptibility to the most widespread diseases, therefore our work is
an opportunity to better understand how pathogens and diseases can
circulate between wild and domestic ungulates. Livestock
management is a key economic resource in Southern Tunisia, and
this potentially presents a risk of cross contamination between
livestock and wildlife via the environment, arthropod vectors and
carnivores.
^ Over the years, we have developed a strong network of partner
ABOVE institutions within Tunisia and aim to increase the availability of
Hatem Ouled veterinary and laboratory support services in all the protected areas.
Ahmed (left) and In particular, we are working with our local partners at the IRVT
Soufien Sghaier (Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunis) and the CNVZ (Centre
(right), colleagues National de Veille Zoosanitaire) to assess the risks and find the best
from the Institut de way to screen antelope and other wildlife.
la Recherche
Vétérinaire de Tunis
(IRVT)
In 2020, we entered the second year of a collaboration with
Stephanie Brien of the Roslin Institute and the Royal (Dick) School of
Veterinary Studies (University of Edinburgh, Scotland). As part of her
PhD, Stephanie will investigate how molecular and genomic
diagnostic techniques can be used to identify infectious diseases in
SHO using blood, tissue or faecal samples. Looking at the SHO
genome, she will explore adaptive diversity as a measure of
population-level disease resistance.
>
NEXT PAGE The result of Stephanie’s work will be instrumental in developing a
Stephanie Brien at
systematic disease risk analysis for SHO with region-specific hazards.
the University of
Edinburgh,
Information on disease risk will be combined with immunogenetic data
investigating SHO to predict the potential outcome of reintroduction in Tunisia and to
pathogens on samples identify risk mitigation strategies to increase the chances of
collected in Tunisia establishing self-sustaining wild SHO populations.
15 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Photo : Rob Ogden, University of Edinburgh
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 16
Restoring NATURE.
Photo : Andrea Bonomo, SVSRestoring NATURE.
Ecosystem restoration and
Biodiversity surveys
Seasonal surveys
he last release of SHO took place over a decade ago, and we
9 T are now at an important milestone in the re-establishment of this
species and the restoration of their fragile semi-arid ecosystem.
As part of our commitment to the restoration of nature, we continued
to survey biodiversity for the ninth consecutive year. We aim to
Consecutive
evaluate how these habitats are changing and demonstrate the
years of
impact of protected areas for restoring arid steppe botanical
biodiversity
communities and the wildlife that is associated with it.
surveys
evaluating Vegetation and habitat monitoring
changes over Our annual vegetation surveys in Dghoumes NP are contributing to
long timescales an existing dataset that will help to develop a locally appropriate
to understand monitoring approach to assess the biodiversity improvements.
biodiversity In particular, our field assistant Khalil Meliane is compiling the various
trends within the monitoring data to better understand the relationships between animal
small fenced and plant species and the environment.
protected areas
_______________ Mammal surveys
Surveying the density, occupation or behaviour of key mammal
species provides a quick assessment of the ecosystem processes.
Annuals survey carried out on random spoor transects both inside
and outside Dghoumes NP will help to compare diversity levels
between the two environments and across the years.
Additionally, following the intensive preliminary survey conducted by
master’s students, we continue with the camera trap surveying to
study species richness and abundance, habitat use and social
structure (see below).
Ground beetles
During the past two years, our field assistant Amira Saidi has been
surveying the beetle assemblages in several protected areas of
Southern Tunisia. She has identified most of the beetle families and
investigated their seasonal activities in relation to the habitat features
and climatic conditions. This unprecedented study provided baseline
data on this crucial component of the ecosystem. There was
encouraging evidence of species fulfilling a range of ecological
functions from the recycling activities of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae)
to the pollination services of flower chafers (Cetoniidae). We are now
exploring how they can inform of the management of the protected
areas and the wider landscape.
17 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Restoring NATURE.
Camera-trap surveys
>
RIGHT
Camera trap images
of cryptic African
wildcat Felis Sylvestris
in Dghoumes NP
s a result of the development of vegetation in the protected
A areas, direct observations of animals are becoming
increasingly difficult, particularly, the cryptic species that have
key ecological functions and thus determine the quality of SHO
habitat. We have therefore moved into using remotely triggered
cameras (camera-traps) to monitor the fauna in the parks. When
camera-traps are placed at 1-2 km grid, they provide information on
the presence of different species, their distribution, social structure
and health. Long-term monitoring will help us to understand the
population dynamics through the different seasons and across years.
Since 2018, we implemented a large camera-trap survey in
Dghoumes NP and that ran through 2019 and 2020. This is a great
opportunity to empower and engage people from local communities
as they can directly see the results. This tool meets expectations of
both managers and conservationists in providing useable data.
In 2020, two of the guards that we intensively trained in Dghoumes
NP are now training the guards in other protected areas with SHO.
The first training event was for the guards in Sidi Toui NP.
>
RIGHT
An example of the
grid for camera-
trap studies in
Dghoumes NP
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 18Restoring NATURE.
Wider activities
12,000
km²
of the wider arid
landscape
is being monitored
in conjunction with
the DGF, where
we aim to enhance
biodiversity
management and
link protected
areas to increase
available habitat
for aridland
antelopes and e continue to support biodiversity restoration in other
other wildlife,
ultimately
expanding into the
desert wilderness
W protected areas and have provided technical support to
additional species reintroductions including the North
African ostrich, the addax (Addax nasomaculatus) and the
slender-horned gazelle (Gazella leptoceros). We routinely monitor
of the Grand Erg these populations, as well as other key species of the Sahelo-
Oriental. Saharan region to document and evaluate the interspecific
relationships that underpin vital ecosystem functions. Find out more
at www.marwell.org.uk/conservation.
Our study on the genetics of reintroduced SHO has been repeated
with the Tunisian Addax population as part of a joint project with the
DGF, Al Ain Zoo, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS),
and San Diego Zoo Global, and the experience gained with the SHO
enabled us to improve our sampling success rate. The preliminary
analyses have been completed and the results will enable us to help
formulate recommendations, which may include translocations of
animals between protected areas and further augmentation from ex-
situ programmes.
In 2020, there were approximately 80 North African ostriches in four
fenced-protected areas in Tunisia. Preparations are underway for a
release of ostriches in Oued Dekouk NR during the next winter.
Ongoing studies will help us to understand more about the behaviour
of these giant flightless birds, which we have helped return to their
natural habitat in Tunisia after an absence of 127-years.
The worrying decline of the slender-horned gazelles, small native
gazelles that inhabit the sand dunes, has motivated us to develop an
emergency conservation project with the DGF. Last winter (2019), we
carried out a preliminary aerial survey of the Tunisian desert in order
to assess the status of the wild population and their habitat. A follow-
up ground survey is planned for October 2020.
19 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Catalysing CHANGE.
Sharing experiences, networking
and supporting our Tunisian
colleagues
Park staff training, teamwork
and networking
We believe that our long-term collaboration with the Direction
Générale des Forêts (DGF) and our other Tunisian and International
partners is essential for long-term sustainable conservation. We have
a philosophy of continually sharing experiences and working closely
with our Tunisian colleagues. We also facilitate opportunities for our
Tunisian partners to communicate on a national and international
stage, by:
- facilitating communication between the park managers and
local NGOs, universities and research institutes;
- contributing to students’ training;
- representing our Tunisian projects in various national and
Fig.8a
international conferences and workshops.
In 2020,. we continued training the park staff in the use of camera-
traps: particularly utilising the experienced staff of Dghoumes NP to
deliver training to the guards in Sidi Toui NP to build a new monitoring
capacity. We continued engaging
them in biodiversity surveys and
on census protocols, while
reviewing the recording methods.
We equipped the guards of Sidi
Toui NP with a laptop to help
them in their routine work.
Formal training has been
provided on animal behaviour
and management in Bou Hedma
NP, with specific focus on the
newly introduced North-African
ostriches. It will be replicated in
Oued Dekouk NR in winter 2020.
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 20Catalysing CHANGE.
Higher education
10 Master’s
students
encouraged to
explore the
diversity of
opportunities
available to
professionals
_______________
O
ur scientists supervise and facilitate undergraduate and
postgraduate research projects, and teach university students
contributing to academic qualifications in the UK and
internationally.
As part of our work in Tunisia, we accept a small number of students
each year, embedded in our Conservation Biology team, exposed to
real-world challenges, and undertaking projects contributing to our
programmes of work.
Over the last few years, we have supervised five Master of Research
degree (MRes) in Wildlife Conservation, run in collaboration between
the University of Southampton and Marwell Wildlife, and five Master’s
degree in Ecology, from the University of Tunis Al Manar. We also
commit ourselves to increasing in-country expertise in Wildlife and
Conservation Medicine in collaboration with the University of Tunis El
Manar, the Institute of Aridlands of Medenine and the National
Veterinary School of Sidi Thabet.
In 2020,. we were unable to deploy international research students in
the field in Tunisia because of global travel restrictions and risk
assessment protocols relating to the global pandemic. However, we
are very pleased to have started providing support to the next
generation of Tunisian ecologists, Amira Saidi and Mohamed Khalil
Meliane, for their PhDs.
21 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Catalysing CHANGE.
Welcoming a keeper from
Dublin Zoo
A
t the end of 2019, we were pleased to welcome Brendan
‘The
Walsh, an experienced zookeeper from Dublin Zoo (Ireland),
together with a crew from the Moondance Productions
(http://moondance.tv/) who produces ‘the Zoo’, a TV documentary
Zoo’ series set in Dublin zoo and seen on RTE (Ireland), Animal Planet
(UK), VRT (Belgium/Holland), Denmark, Thailand and beyond.
The Dublin Zoo
TV series
Following a For this special, you’ll be able to follow Brendan and Marie, our field
zookeeper in his conservationist, during 8 days of fieldtrip in Oued Dekouk NR, Sidi
overseas trip Toui, Dghoumes and Bou Hedma NPs. They observed the
from Ireland to descendants of the SHO imported in 2007 from European (EEP) and
Tunisia North American (SSP) zoos in its natural habitat. It has been a great
_______________ opportunity to celebrate the success of zoos’ contribution to rewilding
the planet but also a great opportunity for the Tunisian NP guards and
Irish zookeeper to meet and share experiences.
^
ABOVE
Brendan Walsh,
zookeeper from Dublin
Zoo (Ireland).
>
RIGHT
Field trip to Southern
Tunisia; Group photo of
Marie Petretto (Marwell
Wildlife) and Brendan
Walsh (Dublin Zoo) with
John Higgins –right–
and Paschal Cassidy –
left– (Moondance
Production)
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 22Catalysing CHANGE. 23 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020
Catalysing CHANGE.
International meeting on
Sahelo-Saharan Conservation
The Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group (SSIG) meeting is an annual
19
forum for all those working in wildlife conservation within the arid
th areas of North Africa and the Middle-East. Facilitated by the Sahara
Conservation Fund (SCF), and in 2019 by Marwell Wildlife for this
year’s event in Tunisia, the meeting provides an opportunity to bring
Annual meeting people together to share ideas and projects, and to continue a strong
for Sahel and
tradition of collaboration on behalf of Sahelo-Saharan wildlife and
Sahara
Conservation people. The meeting format includes a series of presentations,
discussion groups, and workshops covering a range of topical issues.
April 30 – May 3,
2019
Carthage Thalasso
Resort, Gammarth,
Tunisia
_______________
SSIG presentations
4th
Woodfine, T. (2004) A review and update of Marwell Preservation Trust's approach to
Sahelo-Saharan conservation
5th
Woodfine, T. & Engel, H. (2005) Reintroduction and metapopulation of addax and oryx
in Tunisia
^
ABOVE Gilbert, T. (2006) Marwell's ex-situ oryx program: an overview of current and proposed
Tim Woodfine, Director 6th activities for scimitar-horned oryx Houston, B. & Gilbert, T. (2006) Conservation
partnerships: the addax and scimitar-horned oryx EEPs and SSPs.
of Conservation
(Marwell Wildlife)
7th Gilbert, T. & Woodfine, T. (2007) Conservation genetics of the scimitar-horned oryx.
11th Woodfine, T. (2011) Monitoring scimitar-horned oryx in Dghoumes NP, Tunisia.
Tim Woodfine (2011) Review of a decade of the Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group
12th Woodfine, T. (2012) Update on Tunisia
13th Woodfine,T. & Petretto, M. (2013) Measuring grazing pressure as part of post-release
monitoring of reintroduced antelope in semi-arid steppe
14th Woodfine, T. (2014) Assessing the Genetic Diversity of the National Meta-population
of Scimitar-horned Oryx in Tunisia
15th Woodfine, T(2015) Arid steppe restoration: interactions & Interdependency in
Dghoumes National Park, Tunisia
Petretto, M (2015) Returning the North African ostrich to Tunisia
16th Petretto, M. (2016) The conservation of Addax in Tunisia
17th Petretto, M (2017) Monitoring the biodiversity of Tunisia
18th Gilbert, T., Petretto, M., Senn, H., Ogden, R., Trigui, S., Woodfine, T., Nouioui, M. &
Riordan, P. (2018) Population modelling for metapopulation management: scimitar-
horned oryx in Tunisia
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 24Funding PROPOSAL. Proposed activities for 2021 and beyond By October 2020, we are pleased to report that despite the global pandemic, we have made significant progress against the activities we planned for the new phase of programme in Tunisia (see report 2019): In partnership with Tunisian government, we started developing a national meta- population management plan for SHO. We started the modelling of our SHO monitoring data in order to propose the best alternatives for the management plan and agreed to postpone the delivery workshop to 2021 due to Covid-19. The advantage of this is that the Addax genetic analyses will be available as well. The results of last year’s studies on factors influencing SHO populations are being written for peer-review publications. Khalil Meliane is producing a paper focusing on wild carnivores in Dghoumes NP, informing the distribution and habitat features influencing species’ activity. Amira Saidi analysed her data on how ground and darkling beetle’s activities can inform ecosystem quality and change. We continue monitoring SHO in Dghoumes NP as a case-study of best practice and an example of effective protected area management, providing a basis from which to evaluate the efficacy of the wider national management plan. This includes a long-term camera-trap survey: after 18 months of continuing monitoring of the mountains and nearby plain, 26 camera-traps have been moved into the steppe in August. The data collected by the trained guards are being checked and analysis is due to be completed in 2020. Our health monitoring programme has been enhanced by supporting Stephanie Brien’s PhD. In collaboration with the Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunis (IRVT), we extracted DNA from the historical samples we opportunistically collected during our fieldwork and sent it to Edinburgh University where advanced molecular techniques are being tested. This is the ongoing first step in a 3-year research project that will inform management plans and possible future release. We have continued to deliver training to improve skills and build capacity for wildlife conservation in Tunisia. Yadh Ben Mustapha (Master student / University of Tunis) has completed his Master in February 2020, conducting his fieldwork with Marwell’s conservation team. We continued working routinely with the park staff, providing specific camera-trap training in Dghoumes, Bou Hedma, Jbil and Sidi Toui NPs. We have been able to retain our two Tunisian ecologists, Khalil Meliane and Amira Saidi, as field assistants: they conduct short–term surveys and document ecology and ecological function of key-species within the antelopes’ habitat. We are also pleased to support their PhD research. Whilst we maintain close relationships with our University partners, we haven’t welcomed any additional students this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are working with the Tunisian academic team to find the best way to develop wildlife conservation capacity in the country. 25 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020
Funding PROPOSAL.
Activities 2021
£
200 We are planning on continuing and expanding the monitoring of
species assemblages in the protected areas, primarily through the
We can buy a use of camera trap surveys. We will continue our work in Dghoumes,
Camera-trap
and Sidi Toui NPs, but we would also like to expand these surveys to
Oued Dekouk NR as well as replicated short-term surveys in Bou
Hedma NP. This will enable us to simultaneously survey the protected
areas and facilitate site comparisons to fully understand the
underlying ecological processes. These important data will improve
our understanding of how the SHO and other key species use their
habitat, allow us to assess the carrying capacity of the area and
develop appropriate management strategies with the Tunisian
£ government. Most of the devices from Dghoumes NP need replacing
650/month due to wear and damage from being used continuously for over 2-
years in an arid environment. We need to deploy at least 25
We cover the cost of
a post-graduate field
cameras per park, therefore we will seek to purchase 50
assistant additional devices.
Whilst we haven’t any evidence of circulating diseases within the
SHO groups, it has been demonstrated in the past how important is
the health surveillance. The exposure to infectious diseases is a
limiting factor for translocations and we need to evaluate and mitigate
risk before moving animals between sites as well as preventing any
disease events impacting SHO populations in the protected areas.
£ There is a need to increase health screening for SHO within those
22,000 protected areas to better understand the cause of unexplained SHO
mortalities that have occurred in the past and may happen again.
We can purchase
and import a tamer
into Tunisia
As a consequence of the metapopulation management planning, we
have to translocate SHO between protected areas. To achieve this,
we will need to purchase and import safe capture materials into
Tunisia. These materials are not available locally and are vital for
enacting conservation translocations and disease monitoring as part
of the metapopulation management strategy. There is a challenging
process in importing capture facilities, so we would like to start
with a portable boma, runways and a tamer to safely hold the
animals, and we are therefore seeking for funds to begin the
purchase process and to cover the associated veterinary
expenses.
Finally, we see the immense value in providing employment
opportunities for young Tunisian veterinary and ecology graduates to
gain experience of working in the field, building capacity and
collecting important data to facilitate management decisions. As the
next generation of conservationists in Tunisia, it is important that
students have support to travel to and work in these remote field
sites.
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 26Funding PROPOSAL.
Costs & Funding Proposal
The annual costs of operations in Tunisia are underwritten by Marwell Wildlife, maintaining our
presence in-country, and ensuring the continuity of work that is essential for long-term success.
We have the opportunity and ability to expand our work and enhance conservation impact and
are seeking funding for delivery of specific projects. Hence, we would very much welcome the
support of EEP partners who share our goals of achieving sustainable management of
reintroduced scimitar-horned oryx, and the restoration of their habitat and local biodiversity. By
supporting local development and promoting the motivation and the skills of the Tunisian youth,
our program could provide great and inspiring stories to emphasize the contribution of the
partners of our work.
Cost item Cost basis £
Implementation of oryx meta-population plan
Plastic boma incl. all components @ £ 8,800
Purchase mass capture material 11,300
importation costs @ £2,500
Tamer incl. all components @ £11,000
Purchase tamer & portable alley system 18,000
+ importation costs @ £7,000
TOTAL 29,300
Standardising oryx and habitat monitoring
Tunisian field assistant/ delivering training to 4 x 12 month @ £650 per month (salary &
31,200
guards (2 teams of 2 graduated Tunisians) expenses)
Monitoring 4 protected areas by Marwell team Mileage: 2,000km/m @ 0.36p per km 8,640
Camera traps & consumable 2 x 25 x camera traps @ £200 per unit 10,000
Laptop and external hard-drive 1 per park, 2parks @ £ 240(used laptop) 600
+ £60 (hard drive)
Batteries 8batteries/camera, 4 times a year, 1,280
80 cameras @ £0.5/batt
TOTAL 51,720
Integrated wildlife & livestock health monitoring
SHO chemical immobilisation (emergency care, 5 oryx @ £60 per oryx (drugs, consumables) 300
diagnosis and management purpose)
Sampling and analyses parasitology, histology, serology etc.+ storage 1,000
and shipping @ £50/SHO, 20 SH0
Treatments Ad hoc antibiotic, anti-parasitic, vaccine 400
depending on test results
TOTAL 1,700
Research on the restoration of the arid steppe ecosystem
Stipend for Tunisian trainees and local trackers 2 pers., 60 days @ 1,500 TND/mo/pers 2,000
Transport and food cost £ 500/mo 1,000
TOTAL 3,000
Overall Total £ 85,720
27 | SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020Funding PROPOSAL.
For more information
marwell.org.uk/Conservation
UK charity registered under
N° 275433
SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX EEP REPORT 2020 | 28You can also read
