Why have some animal species disappeared from parts of the Sahara Desert?

The disappearance of various animal species from parts of the Sahara Desert is primarily attributed to human activities rather than natural environmental shifts alone.

The progressive loss of well-adapted and mobile species has been driven by two main factors:

• Habitat Destruction: Human expansion and land-use practices have significantly altered the environment, reducing the available space and resources necessary for wildlife survival.1
• Hunting and Advanced Technology: The introduction and use of advanced firearms have led to the serious depletion of many species. For example, the North African elephant became extinct in the region during the Roman period, while other animals such as the lion and ostrich were still established in the northern margins as late as 1830.1

Additionally, the addax suffered severe population declines, with the last individual in the northern Sahara killed in the early 1920s. Similar patterns of depletion have been observed among antelope populations on the desert's southern margins and within its central massifs.1