Ecology and conservation of the jebeer gazelle and wild ass in the Dasht e Kavir, Iran

The jebeer gazelle and the wild ass were studied for four years in two protected regions in the Dasht e Kavir, Iran, to provide information on their basic ecology and status for their conservation and management. One region was occupied by Man and his domestic sheep and goat, the other region was not. The regions were compared to determine the influence of domestics on the wild populations. Road and aerial censuses were the main methods used. These are discussed at length. They obtained information on the population sizes, distribution, habitat preferences and structure and their seasonal and annual trends. Daily activity and rutting behaviour were determined by observations from springs. Feeding was determined by bite studies and faecal analysis. The implications of the results for conservation, management and research are discussed and recommendations made.