Ammotragus free-ranging population in the south east of Spain: a necessary first account

Abstract

This is the first attempt to investigate some characteristics of a Spanish population of Ammotragus lervia introduced in the wild back in 1970. Apart from a short account of the population history and proceeding up to the present, a comparison between population data reported for the American wild populations and the Spanish one is provided. The surveys were conducted during breeding and rutting seasons. The majority of the herds sighted in Sierra Espuña were made up of 1–10 individuals, and adult males were more frequently observed during rutting. The group composition more commonly observed during breeding is that of adult females and subadults, i.e., nursery herds. A different habitat use was obtained depending on the season and sex-age class. These results are consistent with the dynamics of ungulates and their reproductive phenology. Suggestions for future research and conservation-management concerns in the area are provided.