# Seasonal Activity Patterns of Captive Arabian Sand Gazelle (Gazella marica, Thomas, 1897) in Qatar

## TL;DR

This study found that Arabian sand gazelles in Qatar show more feeding and walking activity in summer than winter, showing their adaptability to seasonal changes in captivity.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the seasonal behavioral patterns of Arabian sand gazelles in captivity in Qatar.

## Key findings

- Feeding and walking were the most frequent activities in both summer and winter, but occurred more in summer.
- Standing, lying down, and other behaviors were also more common in summer.
- The gazelles showed adaptability to harsh environments and seasonal changes.

## Abstract

This study examined how Arabian sand gazelles behave in captivity, focusing on seasonal differences in their activity levels. Arabian sand gazelles were observed at Al Reem Biosphere Reserve in Qatar for 16 days during summer and winter. Results obtained revealed that feeding and walking were the most common activities in both seasons, but these and other behaviors like standing and resting were more frequent in summer. The findings suggest the sand gazelles can adapt to both captive environments and seasonal changes. However, it is strongly recommended to further study the impact of factors like human presence, diet, and interactions with other animals on the gazelles’ behavior, as well as studying wild populations to improve captive breeding programs.

The Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella marica) is a native and highly adaptable species of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to drastic population declines, the species is listed as globally vulnerable. Very little is known about the behavioral ecology of this species in captivity; therefore, this study was designed to investigate the seasonal variations in the activity patterns of Arabian sand gazelles at Al Reem Biosphere Reserve, Qatar. Data were collected in two phases, i.e., summer (September–October 2021) and winter (December 2021–January 2022), for a total of 16 days. Results revealed that feeding and walking (p = 0.001) were the dominant activities in both seasons, yet these were higher in summer compared to winter. Likewise, standing, lying down and other activities (social interactions, defecating, maintenance, sexual behaviors) were also higher in summer compared to winter. All these findings suggest that Arabian sand gazelles are adaptable to harsh environments. However, we strongly recommend a year-round investigation on the impacts of humans, feed types and Arabian Oryx on the behavioral activities of Arabian sand gazelles. In addition, we suggest studying the behavior ecology of the wild scattered populations of Arabian sand gazelles for better management of captive breeding stocks.