RIYADH: In northeast Saudi Arabia, the threatened reem gazelle is breeding again in the wild at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, an early sign that protection measures are translating into recovery on the ground.
More than 40 Arabian reem gazelle birth cases were recorded from the start of 2026 through the end of the first quarter, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing the reserve authority.
For the region, the reem gazelle is not just another species on a checklist. “The reem gazelle is one of the most prominent wildlife symbols associated with desert and semi-desert ecosystems in the Arabian Peninsula,” a spokesperson from the reserve told Arab News.
Historically, reem gazelles ranged across wide areas of deserts, gravel and sandy plains in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, the spokesperson added.
“Over the past decades, reem gazelle numbers declined significantly due to multiple human and environmental pressures, especially intensive hunting using vehicles and modern firearms, as well as habitat loss and degradation,” the official said.
