Tunis — The 20,000 acre Dhoumes National Parc located in west central Tunisia near the salt lake known as the Chott El Djerid, is readying itself for the reintroduction in their original habitat, of endangered gazelle species such as the Dorcas gazelle, the scimitar- horned Oryx and the Addax, which are part of the antelope family.

Tunisia which is one of the first country's in the region to have launched a vast reintroduction scheme thanks to European and American partnership, is an active participant in the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

The country' s aim is first to set up a population of Dorcas gazelles, Oryx and Addax in fenced, protected areas and later gradually to remove fences, to allow free ranging herds to be reintroduced.

The Direction Générale Des Forets (DGF), the country's forestry body which is in charge of the conservation and reintroduction of endangered animal species, has plans afoot to build several water catchment basins, as well as setting up new watch towers and refurbishing older ones, within the Dghoumes National Park.

A program has also been launched to plant shrubs, trees and other vegetal species which used to grow in the region. Some 165 thousand dinars have been allocated to the project and an additional 99 thousand dinars will be put in the completion of an eco museum and a trek for visitors.