Causes of mortality in captive Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei) at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) Qatar. From 2001 - 2007

Abstract

Since 1999, a population of Speke’s gazelles (Gazella spekei) has been managed at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) in Doha, State of Qatar. As the population at AWWP seems to have suffered unprecedented declines, as compared to other gazelles at AWWP, over the last few years, it was decided to retrospectively evaluate all 206 necropsy reports recorded between 2001 and 2007 to investigate the reasons behind the observed mortality. Postmortem findings
indicating lung infections accounted for almost 30 % of all deaths, followed by traumatic injuries (17.9 %) and maternal neglect leading to starvation and death in neonatal animals (13.5 %).
Animals between 10 days and 1 year of age showed a higher tendency toward problems with lung infections, whereas animals between 2 and 3 years of age died more often because of traumatic injuries. Individuals older than 3 years of age often suffer from lung infection but usually
in combination with other illnesses, such as renal and gastrointestinal diseases.