Retrospective study of mortality in Dorcas and Grant's gazelles (Gazella dorcas and Nanger granti) at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Qatar

Abstract

The necropsy records of 279 dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas) and 27 Grant’s gazelles (Nanger granti) kept at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar over a period of 8 years were reviewed in order to determine common pathological findings with view to population development and neonatal survival. The most common finding in both species was trauma (41 % in dorcas, 60 % in Grant’s gazelles), followed by pneumonia (20 % in dorcas, 35 % in Grant’s gazelles). Other common diagnoses included gastrointestinal disorders (15 % in dorcas, 25 % in Grant’s gazelles) and nephropathies (11 % in dorcas, 25 % in Grant’s gazelles). In dorcas gazelles neonatal mortality can be reduced, and individual animal welfare can be increased (MELLOR and STAFFORD, 2004), if group size is strictly controlled.