The mountain gazelle, found only in Türkiye and Israel, has a highly restricted range. In Türkiye, this species is confined to Hatay, where it faces threats such as habitat loss, water scarcity, and food shortages. To protect the species, Doga Dernegi and the Hatay Nature Conservation Association (TAKODER) have launched a joint project aiming to strengthen the population, safeguard and restore their habitats, and raise awareness.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the mountain gazelle is globally endangered, with a particularly alarming decline in Israel. The global population is estimated to be around 3,000 individuals, with 1,504 of them residing in Hatay as of the 2025 population assessment. This makes the Hatay population even more critical for the species’ survival. Historically, mountain gazelles were found across a wide area, including Adana, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Aleppo. Today, they are limited to the Hatay province, the “Mountain Gazelle Wildlife Development Zone” between the districts of Kırıkhan and Reyhanlı, located in the Incirli Hills Key Biodiversity Area.
New Water and Food Resources for Gazelles
As part of the project launched in August 2024 with support from the IUCN Save Our Species Fund and the Segré Foundation, three new water sources have been established to improve gazelles’ access to water. Additionally, to meet their protein needs, chickpeas have been planted in a 10-acre pilot area, a crop noted by local communities and experts to be particularly favored by the gazelles. The region’s 11 historical water cisterns posed a significant risk to gazelles and other wildlife, as animals falling in could suffer injury or death. To prevent such accidents, the cisterns have been secured with ecological perforated barriers, allowing safe access for species like bats that use them as shelters. Moreover, the water troughs in the area had increasingly been used by livestock, raising concerns about the spread of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease among gazelles. To address this, four water sources are undergoing restoration to ensure a continuous flow of clean water, securing safe access for gazelles.
A Plan to Enhance Genetic Diversity
A plan to increase the genetic diversity of the species is also being developed to ensure the future of the gazelles. Low genetic diversity in small, isolated populations makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other threats. To counter this, efforts are underway to determine new habitats that will help strengthen the population.
The project is not limited to fieldwork alone. More than 300 students have received training and educational materials as part of awareness-raising activities involving local communities, farmers, and shepherds. In addition, meetings with authorities and social media shares are helping to build a broader support network for the protection of mountain gazelles.
“Protecting Hatay’s Mountain Gazelles Means Protecting the Future of the Species”
Doga Dernegi’s Conservation Program Coordinator, Şafak Arslan, emphasised the importance of protecting the Hatay population: “Hatay is the only region in Türkiye that hosts the mountain gazelle. Since this species remains in only two regions worldwide, protecting it is crucial for its survival. Our local partner, TAKODER, has been working alongside the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks for many years to safeguard the gazelles. We are ensuring that these efforts gain international recognition and support in the field of nature conservation. In addition to our conservation work with TAKODER, we are also researching historical gazelle habitats outside Hatay. Our goal is to assess whether these areas still offer suitable conditions for the species. In the future, we aim to reintroduce gazelles to these habitats to help restore their populations.”
For further information and inquiries:
-Şafak Arslan, Conservation Program Coordinator, Doga Dernegi
+90 507 346 09 14
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