happened in the desert steppes of Tunisia in Roman times (see Ibrahim and
Mensching 1976). The rich fauna living here at that time – including lions,
leopards and many kinds of antelopes – which had a considerable food de-
mand that could only be satisfied if plenty of biomass and a greater number
of smaller animals than exist there today were available, are indicative of a
denser vegetation in northern Egypt in Roman times, especially in wadis.
Of the bigger mammals merely a small number of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes),
fennecs (Fennecus zerda), jackals (Canis aureus), hyenas (Hyaenidae), Dorcas
gazelles, lynxes (Lynx), wildcats and hares are found today. They live either
in deserts or close to villages. Since no considerable climatic change has taken
place during the past 2,500 years, the cause of the degradation of flora and
fauna can only be attributed to overuse of the natural potential, which in
drylands inevitably leads to soil degradation, if not to desertification.