Population declines of Przewalski's gazelle around Qinghai Lake, China

Przewalski's gazelle Procapra przewalskii is endemic to China and is classi fied as Critically Endangered by IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Histori cally, the species occurred in parts of the provinces of Gansu, Inner Mongo lia, Ningxia and Qinghai but now appears to be restricted to three populati ons around Qinghai Lake. These three populations-Bird Island, Hudong-Ketu a nd Yuanzhe-have all declined since 1988. The populations have been monitore d since 1994 and the smallest, on Bird Island, appears to be on the brink o f extinction, with only seven individuals being recorded in 1998. In the sa me year, the Hudong-Ketu population comprised 56 individuals (29.4 per cent males, 50 per cent females and 21 per cent juveniles) and the Yuanzhe popu lation 51 individuals (29.4 per cent males, 43.1 per cent females and 27.5 per cent juveniles). The causes of the declines vary for each population bu t include loss of habitat as a result of desertification, poaching and, pos sibly, wolf predation. Human activity and high juvenile mortality are major threats to the continued survival of the gazelle. Conservation measures pr oposed are: (i) the establishment of a special reserve for Przewalski's gaz elle; (ii) a study of the wolf-gazelle relationship and control of the numb er of wolves if necessary; (iii) a search for remnant populations of Przewa lski's gazelle in other regions in their historical range and the identific ation of suitable sites for translocation and establishment of new populati ons.