Endangered rhim gazelles relocated to Libya island haven

Earlier this month eight young rhim gazelles — an endangered species native to North Africa — were transferred to an uninhabited Libyan island, AFP reports.

Environmentalists hope their new home on Farwa Island, near Tunisia, will be a haven for the vulnerable animals. Also known as Gazella leptoceros, the slender-horned gazelle inhabits desert areas in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. However, its population has declined significantly due to hunting.

According to a 2016 assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there were only between 300 to 600 mature rhims left in the North African wild. Mohammed Al-Rabti, one of the volunteers, said environmentalists “wanted to relocate the wild animals to Farwa,” a 13-kilometre-long sandbar, as part of conservation efforts.

He added that the first group of rhims was released a few weeks ago, “followed by eight individuals, including one male and seven females,” on 18 July.

Wrapped in white cloth and carried by volunteers, eight North African rhim gazelles are transported by boat to Farwa Island, 3 km from Libya's shore, where they are released with the aim of preserving the endangered species, decimated in particular by over-hunting. pic.twitter.com/AIHo5oKs1j

— Roya News English (@RoyaNewsEnglish) July 28, 2024

The young gazelles frolicked as soon as they were released before disappearing behind the island’s wild bushes. The rhim gazelle, with its long, slender horns and pale coat, is well-adapted to desert life, blending into sandy terrain. However, this camouflage is less effective against hunters equipped with binoculars, automatic rifles and powerful four-wheel drive vehicles.

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Gazella leptoceros has been classified on the IUCN’s “Red List of Threatened Species” since 2016. Despite the lack of an official census from Libya, numerous NGOs and activists are working to preserve the species. Farwa, though not their natural habitat, appears to have suited the first group of gazelles released on the island.

Five gazelles, four females and one male, have been released in the desert valleys in the southern Libyan town of Sokna as part of an initiative by hunters to protect the wild animal from extinction. pic.twitter.com/6iah20wAfp

— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) May 19, 2024

Environmental activist Youssef Gandouz reported that the gazelles have been “monitored with binoculars and drones and are doing very well.” Farwa Island, also home to the loggerhead sea turtle and a staging post for migratory birds, faces threats such as illegal fishing and pollution. However, ongoing efforts by local associations and universities aim to protect its biodiversity and plant cover.

Hunting increased significantly in the North African country after 2011 due to the availability of weapons and collapse of governance due to the NATO-backed civil war.

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