Mountain Gazelle

Israel is the last stronghold of the endangered mountain gazelle and is home to roughly 5000 individuals. The mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) was once widespread throughout Middle Eastern countries including Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. Habitat lost/fragmentation/isolation and, hunting, road accidents, predation by feral dogs and natural predators – led to the complete extinction of gazelles in those countries. Humans must minimalize the impact when developing roads, farmlands, towns, and cities in order to successfully co-exist with wild animals. Protecting wildlife corridors is an ultimate solution when combating the negative effects of habitat fragmentation. It connects fragmented and isolated populations and prevents the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within isolated populations.