Private versus professional: Offspring sex, litter composition and neonate mortality in two gazelle husbandry regimes

The rapid loss of biodiversity has increased reliance on captive breeding and reintroduction programs to conserve endangered species, yet these efforts face obstacles such as limited veterinary care, inbreeding, skewed sex ratios, and high juvenile mortality. This study examines breeding success and neonate survival in Arabian sand gazelles (Gazella marica) from private collections in Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey, and compares them with data from the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre (KKWRC) in Saudi Arabia. We assessed offspring sex ratio, litter type, and survival during the first 30 days of life. Private collections showed a much higher frequency of singleton births—especially in first-time mothers—compared with KKWRC herds. Births in private facilities were concentrated between April and July, whereas KKWRC gazelles reproduced over a longer season. Although sex ratios were generally balanced, neonate survival in private collections was markedly lower. This reduced survival likely reflects management issues, including limited veterinary support and maternal inexperience. Overall, the study demonstrates how captive management conditions influence breeding outcomes and early survival in endangered species and emphasizes the need for stronger husbandry practices and reliable veterinary care in private breeding programs.