The dama gazelles : last members of a critically endangered species /

The Dama Gazelles is an elegant book about a little-known, highly endangered, very beautiful species. Dama gazelles are endemic to the fringes of the Sahara Desert, and specialists estimate fewer than 300 remain in the wild in small pockets of their native habitat. One subspecies (of three) is considered extinct in the wild. The book contains four sections: the first provides a history of the species from biological, systematic, and cultural perspectives. The second section provides detailed biological and ethological information gained by observation and studies primarily conducted in captive populations in Texas, where the majority of Dama gazelles exist. The text then discusses captive populations in Africa, Europe, and North America. This section contains interesting observations on the relative and complementary roles of zoos and private ranches in North America, and how anti-hunting interests have compromised this relationship to the detriment of the species' survival. The final section discusses efforts to reintroduce Dama gazelles to the wild. While its subject is quite narrow, this book should appeal to a broad group of conservationists nonetheless. The book is written in lay terms for all audiences and includes a glossary. Gorgeous photographs dominate. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.--John F. Organ, University of Massachusetts Amherst