Seven out of the twelve native gazelles living in the Gaza border region were found dead, presumingly from poisoning. Israeli Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) inspectors are investigating if there is an additional source of poisoning to prevent further harm to animals.
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INPA inspectors conducted searches in the area with the assistance of tracking dogs and discovered seven dead gazelles.
The native gazelle is an integral part of our nature in Israel. INPA data reveals that there were 3,313 individual gazelles in Israel in 2022, compared to 3,231 the year before. In the past, this species was widespread in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.
Over the years, its population has shrunk or disappeared in most countries, and nowadays, the majority of its population is in Israel: in the northern and central regions, as well as in the western Negev and the southern Judean Desert. The populations were counted over three generations or more (each generation of a gazelle lasts about five years), and the counts show long-term trends in their condition.
In some areas of Israel, there is a trend of growth and strengthening of gazelle populations, but in other areas, populations remain stable or even decrease. The population of gazelles in the southern Hula Valley in northern Israel has decreased by half over the last three generations.