Named after Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba
The scientific species name of the Yemen gazelle, bilkis, are derived from Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, a legendary figure in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions. Her kingdom, renowned for its wealth and cultural flourishing, lay in southern Arabia, in what is now Yemen. Bilqis is considered a symbol of wisdom, beauty, and elegance, and in legend is often depicted with graceful, yet goat-like, hairy legs. The naming of the Yemen gazelle likely serves as an homage to the legendary beauty and significance of the Queen of Sheba, who is deeply rooted in Yemeni history and culture.

The Yemen gazelle was only scientifically described in 1985 by anthropologist Colin P. Groves and zoologist Douglas M. Lay. Their description was based on five skulls and skins from both adult and juvenile animals that were collected in 1951 in the mountainous region around Ta’izz, at various sites between 1,220 and 2,135 meters elevation. These collection sites included El-Hauban, Ta’izz, Usaifira, Jabal Zabra, and Mukha. It remains unclear if the specimens reached these locations through trade.
Collected by American tropical medicine expert Harry Hoogstraal in the mid-20th century, these specimens are now housed at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, USA. Since the collection of these specimens in 1951, there has been almost no further information on the biology or distribution of the Yemen gazelle, and no additional sightings have been reported. At the time, however, the species was said to be commonly found in the Ta’izz region.
Yemen gazelle – Fact sheet
Alternative name | Queen Sheba’s gazelle, Queen of Sheba’s gazelle, Bilkis gazelle |
Scientific name | Gazella bilkis, Gazella arabica bilkis, Gazella gazella arabica |
Original range | Yemen |
Time of extinction | unclear, possibly in the 1950s or 1960s |
Causes of extinction | unclear, probably hunting, lack of protection measures, habitat loss |
IUCN status | extinct |
No records since 1951
The southwestern Arabian Peninsula is known for its rich biodiversity and high level of endemism. In stark contrast, however, stands the lack of information about the region’s natural history and conservation value. Since 1965, multiple ornithological expeditions have traversed northern Yemen without a single sighting of the Yemen gazelle. Even ornithologist Richard F. Porter, who led six expeditions to northern Yemen between 1979 and 1987, observed no gazelles whatsoever.
In February 1992, French wildlife ecologist Arnaud Greth attempted to locate the Yemen gazelle in the Jabbel Sabit and Jabbel Samah mountains between Ta’izz and Al Thurbah. Despite thorough investigations, no sightings were recorded. When Greth showed photos of the gazelle to over 100 locals in nearby villages, all reported that they had not seen the species in decades. These findings were published in 1993 in an Oryx journal article titled Bilkis Gazelle in Yemen – Status and Taxonomic Relationships.
As no evidence of the Yemen gazelle was uncovered in any of the surveys within its presumed habitat, the absence of sightings or further specimens ultimately led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to officially declare the species extinct in 2000.
When did the Yemen gazelle go extinct?

Eyewitnesses report that the Yemen gazelle was still common in the Ta’izz region in the early 1950s. However, despite systematic searches in 1965, 1979, 1987, and 1992, no sightings were reported. By 1992, local residents confirmed they had not seen the gazelle in decades, suggesting the species may have gone extinct sometime in the 1950s or 1960s.
In 1985, zoo veterinarian Chris Furley photographed a group of gazelles on the private Al Wabra Wildlife Farm in Qatar. Zoologist Colin Groves speculated that these might be surviving Yemen gazelles, though this was never confirmed. According to a 1993 study by Greth, Groves, and other scientists, a small population of Yemen gazelles may indeed have existed in Sheikh Al-Thani’s collection at Al Wabra, but these animals reportedly died out without reproducing.
Small groups of what were thought to be Yemen gazelles were also held in the Maxwell and Chester Zoos in the UK, although these may have been hybridized with the Arabian mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella cora) or Erlanger’s gazelle (G. g. erlangeri). There is no conclusive evidence, however, that the gazelles in these British zoos were actually hybrids.
Reasons for the extinction of the Yemen gazelle
The exact reasons behind the extinction of the Yemen gazelle remain largely a mystery. Although the species was reportedly common in the Yemeni highlands until the mid-20th century, no systematic studies were conducted to monitor its population, nor were any significant conservation measures taken to ensure its survival.
Overhunting and habitat loss
When Colin Campbell Sanborn and Harry Hoogstraal collected the first specimens in 1951, initially labeled as Gazella gazella arabica (a subspecies of the Arabian gazelle, Gazella arabica), the Yemen gazelle was still relatively common in the Ta’izz region. In their 1953 publication, Some Mammals of Yemen and their Ectoparasites, they observed:
“Gazelles are very common in the hills around Ta‘izz, but except for the immature specimen taken in a thicket in the King’s garden and orchard at Usaifira, a few miles from Ta‘izz, we saw none in cultivated fields or in sight of roads or trails in that region. Instead they were found alone or in company with one or two others on the euphorbia-covered slopes separated by hills from cultivated areas. In the last three or four years at least, gazelles have been rather constantly hunted for food by officers and the Royal Guards of Ta‘izz, according to information supplied us.”
Some Mammals of Yemen and their Ectoparasites. Zoology 34. 1953. p. 249. C. C. Sanborn & H. Hoogstraal
Adult Yemen gazelles may have avoided roads and agricultural areas due to targeted hunting by soldiers and royal guards for food. On slopes covered with euphorbia plants, these gazelles likely found both shelter and sustenance.

A 2023 article by Adnan Elmansoury reveals that hunting of endangered species remains widespread in Yemen, despite existing conservation laws and international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Species such as the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), and the mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) are still hunted, often as part of cultural traditions. This hunting is frequently documented and even celebrated on social media.
Although there are wildlife protection laws, they are either weak or rarely enforced. Yemeni environmental law theoretically protects animals in designated nature reserves but does not explicitly prohibit hunting of endangered species outside these areas. Additionally, there is a lack of specialized courts and effective enforcement measures. Local authorities occasionally issue bans on hunting rare animals in specific regions, but these are seldom rigorously enforced, allowing continued hunting. This uncontrolled wildlife hunting is driven not primarily by the Yemeni population but by foreign hunting visitors.
Until 1948, the city of Ta’izz was enclosed by a city wall. Under King Imam Ahmed ibn Yahya, it became Yemen’s second capital, allowing for urban expansion. This development likely reduced and disrupted the natural habitat of the Yemen gazelle, forcing the species from its original range.
Missing protected areas and the Yemen conflict
The IUCN defines protected areas as clearly demarcated geographical spaces dedicated to the long-term conservation of nature through legal or other effective means. Prior to the Yemen conflict – a civil war that erupted in 2014 and continues to this day – Yemen had only ten designated protected areas, covering just 0.77% of its land and 0.44% of its coastal and marine areas. In practice, these protections often remained nominal, as conservation efforts in Yemen were severely hampered by factors such as underdevelopment, corruption, political instability, and limited resources. Additionally, the country’s growing population placed even greater pressure on its already strained natural resources.

The ongoing conflict has greatly hindered biodiversity research in Yemen. With direct fieldwork now scarcely possible, scientists increasingly rely on remote sensing techniques to track changes in land cover – a crucial indicator of ecosystem health. While some conflicts have incidentally protected nature by limiting human access, in most cases they accelerate biodiversity loss by undermining conservation. This trend was highlighted in a 2021 report on protected areas amid the Yemen conflict.
Yemen is rich in biodiversity due to its position at the intersection of three biogeographical zones. Many people in rural areas directly depend on natural resources, meaning biodiversity loss has especially severe impacts on the livelihoods of the country’s poorer populations. Despite international support before 2015, Yemen’s ability to enforce environmental laws has remained limited. The Socotra Archipelago, renowned for its unique biodiversity and high endemism, became a focal point for international conservation efforts, but even here, conflict and increasing tourism have hampered effective protection.
The exact causes of the Yemen gazelle’s extinction remain unclear. However, excessive hunting and the lack of effective measures against illegal poaching are believed to be the primary reasons. As of 2021, and likely to this day, there are no large protected areas around Ta’izz or neighboring regions where hidden populations of the Yemen gazelle might have survived. Even if a small population still exists, the conditions of a decade-long civil war are far from ideal for securing the survival of this or other threatened wildlife species.
Behavior, ecology, and appearance
Little is known about the biology of the Yemen gazelle, though it is believed to have had similar ecological needs to other local gazelle species, such as the mountain gazelle, Arabian gazelle, and the Saudi gazelle (Gazella saudiya), which became extinct in the 1980s.
Gazelles are known for their slender, long-legged build and belong to the family Bovidae. Their remarkable ability to run at high speeds – some species reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour – helps them evade predators. Gazelles typically inhabit arid, open landscapes like steppes, deserts, and semi-deserts, and their diet mainly consists of grasses and herbs.

Since all known specimens of the Yemen gazelle originate from the Ta’izz region, it is assumed that this gazelle was native to that area. They were found either alone or in small groups of one to three on euphorbia-covered slopes at altitudes between 1,230 and 2,150 meters, separated from agricultural lands by hills.
While it is presumed that the Yemen gazelle was endemic to Yemen, it may have also existed in the southern regions of Saudi Arabia. This possibility is suggested by the range of the Arabian mountain gazelle (Gazella cora) in the Asir Mountains, which are near the assumed habitat of the Yemen gazelle. Given the geographic proximity and similar environmental conditions, it is speculated that the Yemen gazelle may have lived beyond Yemen’s borders, particularly in southern Saudi Arabia. However, there have been no systematic studies to confirm or refute this assumption to date.
What set the Yemen gazelle apart from other gazelles?
Gazelles are generally distinguished by characteristic coat markings, often featuring a lighter underside and dark stripes along their flanks. However, according to Greth and Groves (1993), the Yemen gazelle was the darkest of all known gazelle species, with an eye-catching black flank stripe and distinctive coloration that set it apart. Its coat was predominantly coffee-brown, complemented by a secondary dark brown hue stretching from the hindquarters to the head. Beneath the thick black flank stripe, there was a narrow reddish stripe, while the belly was creamy white, extending to the insides of the forelegs and thighs. The Yemen gazelle’s legs were likely shorter than those of the mountain gazelle.
As with many gazelle species, both male and female Yemen gazelles bore horns. However, the horn shape in the Yemen gazelle was notably distinct. The males’ horns were relatively straight, forward-facing, and featured 12 to 15 prominent rings. The females’ horns were also well-developed, with a pronounced ring structure – an uncommon feature among gazelle species. This unique combination of coloring, body structure, and horn shape highlights the distinct identity of the Yemen gazelle among its relatives.
Taxonomy: Subspecies, species, or no species at all?

In A Morphometric and Genetic Framework for the Genus Gazella (2013), the authors highlight that Gazella ranks among the most species-rich genera of horned mammals. Despite their similar body sizes and structures, gazelles exhibit significant variation in coat color and horn morphology. This intraspecific variability makes it challenging to clearly distinguish gazelle species solely based on external features or skull structure. Additionally, many gazelle species inhabit fragmented and isolated regions, complicating the precise definition of species boundaries in the past—a taxonomic ambiguity that affects the Yemen gazelle as well.
Groves and Harrison (1967) initially classified the gazelle from the Yemeni highlands as a potential, undescribed subspecies of the mountain gazelle, albeit with reservations. Later, however, Groves and Lay (1985) described it as a distinct species, naming it Gazella bilkis. The taxonomic classification of the Yemen gazelle remains complex, as Erlanger’s gazelle (G. erlangeri), a little-studied species that also appears in the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, is occasionally considered a subspecies of the mountain gazelle. Both gazelles inhabit the same region and show similar physical characteristics, making it challenging to differentiate them.
A recurring issue is the possible confusion between the Yemen gazelle and Erlanger’s gazelle. Although Groves and Lay argued that they represent two distinct taxa, this distinction has yet to be conclusively confirmed. Genetic analysis could potentially clarify the separation of these two species; however, both species are rarely, if ever, observed in the wild, making it difficult to obtain sufficient genetic material for definitive study.
Could the Yemen gazelle be the Arabian gazelle?
In The Taxonomy of Arabian Gazelles (1997), Colin P. Groves proposed a thought-provoking hypothesis: he speculated that the Yemen gazelle may not be a distinct species but could instead be identical to the Arabian gazelle, which also occurs in Yemen:
“Taken in conjunction with the question-mark over the locality of the type of arabica, this leaves a very real possibility that the description of Gazella bilkis in effect signaled a rediscovery of G. arabica.”
The Taxonomy of Arabian Gazelles. In: The Gazelles of Arabia, 1997, p. 41f. C.P. Groves

Due to uncertainties about the exact origin of the Arabian gazelle’s type specimen, it is possible that the 1985 description of Gazella bilkis was misinterpreted as a new species – while it may actually have been the already-recognized Arabian gazelle. Groves thus suggests that G. bilkis and G. arabica might be the same species, with the original collection sites remaining unclear, further complicating identification.
This ambiguity is heightened by findings from a 2012 genetic study, The Curious Case of Gazella Arabica, which suggests that not only the origin of the Arabian gazelle’s type specimen is in question, but there is also a mismatch between the skull and skin of the lectotype. In fact, the skull and skin come from two different individuals, representing two distinct lineages within the mountain gazelle clade. This discovery raises questions about genetic distinctions between the Yemen gazelle and the Arabian gazelle, making species differentiation even more challenging.
If it turns out that the Yemen gazelle is indeed identical to the Arabian gazelle, it would likely not be a separate species but rather a local population or subspecies of the already documented Arabian gazelle. This might explain why only a few specimens of the Yemen gazelle have ever been found and why it has since remained undetected.
Similar taxonomic challenges have arisen with other extinct gazelles, such as the Algerian gazelle, which was originally described as a separate species but later found to closely resemble the extant red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons). Examination of three museum specimens revealed that at least one of these animals was actually a red-fronted gazelle. This illustrates the complexities of categorizing gazelle species and the potential for misclassification within this diverse group.
Support this blog! If you enjoyed this post, please consider making a small donation. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference. Your donation helps me keep the blog ad-free and without paywalls, ensuring that all readers have free access to the content. You can easily donate through the donate button. Every amount counts and is greatly appreciated! Thank you for your support!