15 Years of Monitoring Reveal Population Increase for Negev Gazelles
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
A recent four-day operation counted Negev gazelles in southern Israel's nature reserves, revealing a 15-year trend of increasing gazelle numbers in the Nahalim HaGedolim reserve. While other areas show stability, experts stress the importance of monitoring and protecting open natural spaces and ecological corridors for the species' survival. Development poses a threat by fragmenting habitats and isolating populations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Negev gazelle populations have shown a rising trend over the last 15 years in the Nahalim HaGedolim nature reserve.
- Dozens of Israel Nature and Parks Authority staff and volunteers participated in the gazelle count.
- The count covered nature reserves in the Negev and Arava deserts, excluding Avrona due to restoration work.
- Experts highlight the critical need for open natural areas and ecological corridors for gazelle survival.
- Development and land use changes threaten gazelle habitats and population connectivity.
Dozens of Israel Nature and Parks Authority employees and volunteers conducted a four-day operation to count Negev gazelles in nature reserves across the Negev and Arava deserts. The teams took a sample count of gazelle populations in the reserves to track their status and identify changes over the years. The count took place in the Makhteshim Ein Yahav (Ein Yahav and Nahal Shizaf), Yotvata, Ashush, and Har HaNegev nature reserves. While the Avrona nature reserve is usually included, this year's count was omitted due to ongoing restoration work.
Analysis of the counts over the past 15 years shows a rising trend in the number of gazelles observed in the Nahalim HaGedolim nature reserve. "This is a complex annual monitoring operation, carried out by teams in challenging field conditions, and it allows for long-term tracking of the Negev gazelle population in Israel," explained Dr. Sefi Horesh, Ecologist for the Southern District at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. He added that gazelle populations in other surveyed areas remain relatively stable. "These trends highlight the importance of long-term monitoring for understanding population status and identifying changes over time," Horesh stated.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority emphasizes that open, extensive, and continuous natural areas are crucial for the survival of Negev gazelles, allowing them to move freely and maintaining connectivity between populations. However, development and changes in land use can fragment and destroy natural habitats, hindering gazelle movement, isolating populations, and reducing their chances of long-term survival. Therefore, protecting the gazelles requires safeguarding not only the nature reserves themselves but also the ecological corridors that connect them and enable the populations' continued existence. "Ecological corridors are an acute part of conserving species like the Negev gazelle," Dr. Horesh concluded.