DOCSLIB.ORG

Distribution and Status of Nubian Ibex in Saudi Arabia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Distribution and Status of Nubian Ibex in Saudi Arabia Distribution and status of Nubian ibex in Saudi Arabia Khushal Habibi and John Grainger Despite increased hunting pressure accompanied by habitat degradation, the current distribution of Nubian ibex Capra ibex nubiana in Saudi Arabia closely resembles that of historical record and spans a wide diversity of habitat types. Efforts are under way to conserve the species and two special ibex reserves have been created. Introduction by royal decree in 1986. An important part of the Commission's pro- This paper reports recent records of the gramme has been to locate relict wildlife pop- Nubian ibex in Saudi Arabia, where wildlife, ulations and evaluate the status of their habi- as in most of the Arabian Peninsula, has tats throughout the Kingdom. The eventual declined considerably in recent decades. aim is to establish a system of wildlife reserves Although this has affected mammals in gener- in which the large mammal fauna in particular al, it has been most serious for large ungu- may be rehabilitated. lates. The Arabian or white oryx Oryx leucoryx The Nubian ibex, a species of major interest became extinct in the wild in the early 1960s to the NCWCD, was widely distributed in the (Dolan, 1976) and the same fate appears to Arabian Peninsula (Philby, 1933; Carruthers, have befallen the Saudi dorcas gazelle Gazella 1935; Raswan, 1935; Schwarz, 1935). The cur- dorcas saudiya, while the sand gazelle G. rent status and distribution of the species in subgutturosa marica and the mountain gazelle Saudi Arabia were uncertain until recently G. gazella have been reduced to relict popula- with few confirmed sightings (Harrison, 1968; tions (Habibi, 1986). Gasperetti, 1978). The principal causes for this extirpation of wildlife in Saudi Arabia lie in the recent accel- eration of habitat destruction, chiefly through Methods overgrazing by livestock, and excessive hunt- ing. Severe competition for grazing from Since 1987 NCWCD field staff have under- increased numbers of domestic stock has taken aerial and ground surveys to locate ibex caused a dramatic contraction in the formerly in the western and central regions of Saudi extensive range of most of the Arabian ungu- Arabia, which constitute the historical range lates, which are now restricted to 'islands' of of the species. Specific survey locations were marginal habitats where they maintain a tenu- identified by reference to historical records ous existence. and also on the basis of undocumented Major wildlife conservation initiatives have reports, for example by field geologists, heli- taken place in several countries of the Arabian copter pilots and information received in the Peninsula in the last decade, of which the field. Aerial surveys, using Bell 212 helicopters Omani Arabian oryx reintroduction pro- provided by the Royal Saudi Air Force, were gramme is perhaps the best known. In Saudi made over rugged terrain generally favoured Arabia the major efforts to reverse the decline by ibex. Ground traverses were used to gauge in wildlife have been initiated by the National range conditions and habitat utilization in Commission for Wildlife Conservation and those areas where ibex were found to be resi- Development (NCWCD), which was created dent. 138 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.19, on 27 Sep 2021 at 21:14:05, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300033858 NUBIAN IBEX IN SAUDI ARABIA Results only one population is known to survive in the extensive Tuwayq escarpment (site 1, Figure 1), although ibex were more common Nubian ibex distribution there in the past. Fifteen extant ibex populations have so far been located in Saudi Arabia. The animals are Ibex habitats largely concentrated in the mountains of the Arabian shield in the west of the country, with The distribution of the Nubian ibex in Saudi isolated groups located in the northern, north- Arabia spans a wide diversity of habitat types central and central regions (Figure 1). (Table 1). The relict population found in the The currently known distribution of ibex, central Tuwayq occupies low-altitude, dissect- with some exceptions, closely conforms with ed escarpments of sedimentary rock, which that of historical record. The confirmed range are treeless, except in narrow canyons, and has been extended in the south-western where precipitation averages 50 mm a year. By mountains, but there appears to have been contrast, ibex in the south-west of the country some reduction of the range in the northern occupy juniper-dominated mountain summits border areas. The most dramatic contraction, with elevations in excess of 2000 m, and where however, has been in the central region, where rainfall averages over 350 mm a year. Table 1. Ibex observations made during reconnaissance surveys (1987-1989) in Saudi Arabia Average precipitation Maximum mm/year (min. Location altitude (m) 6-year record) Physiography 1. Hawtat bani Tamim 500 52.6 Sedimentary cuestas 2. Wadi Tiyah 2300 369.0 Crystalline montane 3. Hema Fiqrah 1500 100.0* Crystalline montane 4. Jabal Qaraqir 1200 50.0t Sandstone pinnacles 5. Jabal Salma 1100 108.0t Dissected granitic plutons 6. Jabal Aja 1200 108.0t Dissected granitic plutons 7. Jabal Irnan 900 44.7 Sandstone hills 8. At Tubayq 1000 33.0 Sandstone cuestas 9. Jabal al Gharir 1400 47.5t Crystalline montane 10. Jabal alKalab 1700 47.5t Crystalline montane 11. Jabal Lawz 2580 44.7t Crystalline montane 12. Hisma 1821 44.7t Sandstone mesas 13. Hawsal 1502 44.7t Sandstone mesas 14. Jabal Dibbagh 2268 44.7t Crystalline montane 15. At-Tawil 890 100.0* Sandstone massif * Estimated precipitation, no records, t Closest station record. 139 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.19, on 27 Sep 2021 at 21:14:05, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300033858 ORYX VOL 24 NO 3 JULY 1990 25' 20' 15' 50° 55° Figure 1. Distribution of ibex in Saudi Arabia. Open circles indicate sightings by field survey personnel dur- ing 1987-1989. Closed circles show recent observations, reports and historical sightings. Habitat conditions for ibex in general were in a year-long study of the Walia ibex Capra found to have been less degraded than those ibex walie in the Simien Mountains, observed of other wild ungulates. All the sites were only two instances of these ibex drinking characterized by difficult terrain, which tends water, although the study site receives more to limit access to livestock, and the vegetation, than 1500 mm rainfall a year. It is interesting in terms of structure and species diversity, has to note, in this regard, that in Arabia hunters remained relatively intact in these areas. traditionally used stone hides overlooking The general ecological requirements of water holes to lay in wait for ibex. Nubian ibex are, however, poorly understood, especially with regard to food plant selection, habitat preferences and water requirements. Population status The latter is of particular interest as the avail- It was impossible to determine the status of ability of permanent water sources is uncer- Nubian ibex populations in the Kingdom dur- tain in two of the most arid sites supporting ing reconnaissance surveys. The animals ibex (sites 7 and 8, Figure 1). Nievergelt (1981), appear to be locally distributed throughout 140 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.33.19, on 27 Sep 2021 at 21:14:05, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300033858 NUBIAN IBEX IN SAUDI ARABIA their range at low density levels (Table 2). The Due to observation difficulties in the rugged 51 observed groups had a mean group size of terrain, the long flight distances of the ani- 3.4 animals, although large groups, of up to 26 mals, and their propensity to hide when dis- animals, have been reported by NCWCD turbed, it was impossible, in all instances, to rangers (Table 2) in the two locations where ascertain sex-age ratios for the observed hunting is now prohibited. groups during the aerial surveys. Where Little information is currently available on sex-age ratios could be determined, groups the social organization of Nubian ibex. were found to be composed of either a mature Harrison (1968) reported that the animals male (7-10 years) with several females and occur in small groups, although aggregation juveniles, or groups of subadult males and into larger groups, especially during the rut- individual adult males. Although juveniles ting season, is common among caprids (Geist, were observed in almost all localities it would 1971; Schaller, 1977). In this study variation in be premature to speculate on the long-term group size was small, with most observed viability of these various ibex populations. groups being close to the mean, although habitat conditions in terms of food plant avail- ability were markedly different. The small Conservation requirements group size, therefore, may be a social feature of this subspecies rather than an indicator of In contrast to other ungulate species in Saudi habitat or carrying capacity. A similar mean Arabia, the Nubian ibex appears to have sur- group size was reported for Walia ibex by vived, albeit in enclaves, in most parts of its Nievergelt (1981). known historical range. The species continues to be threatened by habitat degradation, par- ticularly through extension of roads, which Table 2. Numbers of ibex seen during reconnais- allows for further encroachment by livestock sance surveys (1987-1989) in Saudi Arabia and other development pressures in and around its remaining refuges. The continued No. groups No. displacement and isolation of ibex popula- Location observed observed tions will further limit opportunities for dis- 1.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Arabian Ungulate CAMP & Leopard, Tahr, and Oryx PHVA Final Report 2001.Pdf
    Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) For The Arabian Ungulates and Leopard & Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) For the Arabian Leopard, Tahr, and Arabian Oryx 1 © Copyright 2001 by CBSG. A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (SSC/IUCN). 2001. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for the Arabian Leopard and Arabian Ungulates with Population and Habitat Viability Assessments for the Arabian Leopard, Arabian Oryx, and Tahr Reports. CBSG, Apple Valley, MN. USA. Additional copies of Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for the Arabian Leopard and Arabian Ungulates with Population and Habitat Viability Assessments for the Arabian Leopard, Arabian Oryx, and Tahr Reports can be ordered through the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124. USA. 2 Donor 3 4 Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) For The Arabian Ungulates and Leopard & Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) For the Arabian Leopard, Tahr, and Arabian Oryx TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: Executive Summary 5. SECTION 2: Arabian Gazelles Reports 18. SECTION 3: Tahr and Ibex Reports 28. SECTION 4: Arabian Oryx Reports 41. SECTION 5: Arabian Leopard Reports 56. SECTION 6: New IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria; Taxon Data Sheet; and CBSG Workshop Process. 66. SECTION 7: List of Participants 116. 5 6 Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) For The Arabian Ungulates and Leopard & Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) For the Arabian Leopard, Tahr, and Arabian Oryx SECTION 1 Executive Summary 7 8 Executive Summary The ungulates of the Arabian peninsula region - Arabian Oryx, Arabian tahr, ibex, and the gazelles - generally are poorly known among local communities and the general public.
    [Show full text]
  • Animals of Africa
    Silver 49 Bronze 26 Gold 59 Copper 17 Animals of Africa _______________________________________________Diamond 80 PYGMY ANTELOPES Klipspringer Common oribi Haggard oribi Gold 59 Bronze 26 Silver 49 Copper 17 Bronze 26 Silver 49 Gold 61 Copper 17 Diamond 80 Diamond 80 Steenbok 1 234 5 _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Cape grysbok BIG CATS LECHWE, KOB, PUKU Sharpe grysbok African lion 1 2 2 2 Common lechwe Livingstone suni African leopard***** Kafue Flats lechwe East African suni African cheetah***** _______________________________________________ Red lechwe Royal antelope SMALL CATS & AFRICAN CIVET Black lechwe Bates pygmy antelope Serval Nile lechwe 1 1 2 2 4 _______________________________________________ Caracal 2 White-eared kob DIK-DIKS African wild cat Uganda kob Salt dik-dik African golden cat CentralAfrican kob Harar dik-dik 1 2 2 African civet _______________________________________________ Western kob (Buffon) Guenther dik-dik HYENAS Puku Kirk dik-dik Spotted hyena 1 1 1 _______________________________________________ Damara dik-dik REEDBUCKS & RHEBOK Brown hyena Phillips dik-dik Common reedbuck _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________African striped hyena Eastern bohor reedbuck BUSH DUIKERS THICK-SKINNED GAME Abyssinian bohor reedbuck Southern bush duiker _______________________________________________African elephant 1 1 1 Sudan bohor reedbuck Angolan bush duiker (closed) 1 122 2 Black rhinoceros** *** Nigerian
    [Show full text]
  • Nubian Ibex in the Eastern Desert, Egypt Paul R
    Nubian ibex in the Eastern Desert, Egypt Paul R. Krausman and William W. Shaw In 1984, when the authors were working in the in this area (Halton, 1935). Some ibex have been central part of Egypt's Eastern Desert, they observed there as late as 1960 (Talbot, 1960). found some large tracks and followed them. Although it is suspected that relict populations From the top of a sand dune, they had a brief exist in remote mountain peaks of other areas of but clear view of an adult male Nubian ibex. the Eastern Desert, actual observations after This unexpected sighting confirms that there 1932 are lacking. is at least one population in this part of the Eastern Desert; the last report of ibex in the On 8 February 1984, while evaluating a portion area was in 1927. of the Eastern Desert, we were in the Assiut The ibex Capra ibex has a wide range in southern University Protected Area (AUPA), which is Europe and Asia (Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, located 45 km east of Assiut, Egypt, (Figure 1). 1951), but its range in Africa is limited (Corbet, AUPA includes Wadi Habib (27° 11 'N, 31° 46'E) 1978). The Nubian ibex (C. i. nubiana) is and its junction with Wadi el Assuit (27° 10'N, 31° restricted to the Sinai Peninsula and the Eastern 16'E). We travelled by jeep approximately 25 km Desert in Egypt (Osborn and Helmy, 1980). The from the junction of Wadi el Assiut and Wadi recent status of the Nubian ibex is documented in Habib to an area where the sandstone hills were the Sinai Peninsula (Baharav and Meiboom, partially covered with sand, forming a narrow 1981) but its distribution and status in the Eastern channel in the wadi.
    [Show full text]
  • A Scoping Review of Viral Diseases in African Ungulates
    veterinary sciences Review A Scoping Review of Viral Diseases in African Ungulates Hendrik Swanepoel 1,2, Jan Crafford 1 and Melvyn Quan 1,* 1 Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Programme, Department of Veterinary Tropical Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; [email protected] (H.S.); [email protected] (J.C.) 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +27-12-529-8142 Abstract: (1) Background: Viral diseases are important as they can cause significant clinical disease in both wild and domestic animals, as well as in humans. They also make up a large proportion of emerging infectious diseases. (2) Methods: A scoping review of peer-reviewed publications was performed and based on the guidelines set out in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews. (3) Results: The final set of publications consisted of 145 publications. Thirty-two viruses were identified in the publications and 50 African ungulates were reported/diagnosed with viral infections. Eighteen countries had viruses diagnosed in wild ungulates reported in the literature. (4) Conclusions: A comprehensive review identified several areas where little information was available and recommendations were made. It is recommended that governments and research institutions offer more funding to investigate and report viral diseases of greater clinical and zoonotic significance. A further recommendation is for appropriate One Health approaches to be adopted for investigating, controlling, managing and preventing diseases. Diseases which may threaten the conservation of certain wildlife species also require focused attention.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Strategy for the Arabian Peninsula
    Strategy for the Conservation of the Leopard in the Arabian Peninsula Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................7 1. Intorduction ................................................................................................9 2. Status and Distribution .............................................................................10 3. Problem Analysis .....................................................................................12 4. Range-wide Conservation Strategy ..........................................................13 5. Implementation of the Arabina Leopard Conservation Strategy .............18 6. References ................................................................................................22 7. Acknowledgements ..................................................................................22 Appendix I: List of Workshop Participants .................................................23 Appendix II: List of Range State Agencies ..................................................24 Editors: Urs & Christine Breitenmoser, David Mallon & Jane-Ashley Edmonds Layout: Christine Breitenmoser & Amal Al Hosani Translation: Nashat Hamidan Cover photo: Arabian Leopard in Oman Photo: Andrew Spalton. Foreword by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah Al nimr al-arabi, the Arabian leopard, is a uniquely small, genetically distinctive, desert-adapted form of the leopard that is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. It once occurred around the moun- tainous rim
    [Show full text]
  • The U.K. Hunter Who Has Shot More Wildlife Than the Killer of Cecil the Lion
    CAMPAIGN TO BAN TROPHY HUNTING Special Report The U.K. hunter who has shot more wildlife than the killer of Cecil the Lion SUMMARY The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting is revealing the identity of a British man who has killed wild animals in 5 continents, and is considered to be among the world’s ‘elite’ in the global trophy hunting industry. Malcolm W King has won a staggering 36 top awards with Safari Club International (SCI), and has at least 125 entries in SCI’s Records Book. The combined number of animals required for the awards won by King is 528. Among his awards are prizes for shooting African ‘Big Game’, wild cats, and bears. King has also shot wild sheep, goats, deer and oxen around the world. His exploits have taken him to Asia, Africa and the South Pacific, as well as across Europe. The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting estimates that around 1.7 million animals have been killed by trophy hunters over the past decade, of which over 200,000 were endangered species. Lions are among those species that could be pushed to extinction by trophy hunting. An estimated 10,000 lions have been killed by ‘recreational’ hunters in the last decade. Latest estimates for the African lion population put numbers at around 20,000, with some saying they could be as low as 13,000. Industry groups like Safari Club International promote prizes which actively encourage hunters to kill huge numbers of endangered animals. The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting believes that trophy hunting is an aberration in a civilised society.
    [Show full text]
  • OMAN 1 Month (December 2019 /January 2020) Arabian Tahr It Was
    OMAN 1 month (December 2019 /January 2020) Arabian Tahr It was my fourth trip in Oman and as always I have enjoyed: nice people, wonderful scenery, ease to travel independently and of course good wildlife. As always the birding was excellent, but mammalwatching was exceptional with such species as Arabian Tahr, Caracal, Honey Badger, Arabian Wolf, Striped Hyena and Blanford’s Fox. I spent my first night in the north at Wadi Al Muyaidin where I found a Blandford’s Fox during my last trip and again I saw it at the same place, but it was extremely shy this time. Then I drove to Muntasar, a kind of oasis in the center of Oman: I saw several Desert Red Fox and an Arabian Gerboa, plus a few footprints of gazelles. The following night I slept near Qitbit a place quite close where Rüppel’s Fox has been said common. I saw only Desert Red Fox. During my full trip I never saw any Rüppel’s Fox, but everywhere Desert Red Fox (a lot of them have black underparts, from the the neck to the tail). Desert Red Fox are very different from their counterparts from Europe or elsewhere(slimmer, paler with larger ears) and what I think also confusing is the size of Rüppel’s Fox. Rüppel’s Fox are said to be smaller than Red Fox and all of those I have seen in Western Sahara were smaller(see for example the Handbook of Mammals of the world). By the contrary they are said to have the same size of Red Fox in Mammals of Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimating the Suitability for the Reintroduced Arabian Oryx (Oryx Leucoryx, Pallas 1777) of Two Desert Environments by NIRS-Aided Fecal Chemistry
    remote sensing Article Estimating the Suitability for the Reintroduced Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx, Pallas 1777) of Two Desert Environments by NIRS-Aided Fecal Chemistry Serge Yan Landau 1,*, Ido Isler 2, Levana Dvash 1, Benny Shalmon 3, Amir Arnon 4 and David Saltz 5 1 Department of Natural Resources, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; [email protected] 2 P.O. Box 746, Mount Shasta, CA 96067, USA; [email protected] 3 643 Marva Lane, Eilat 88000, Israel; [email protected] 4 Nature Park Ramat Hanadiv, P.O. Box 325, Zikhron Ya’akov 3095202, Israel; [email protected] 5 Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 84990, Israel; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The re-introduction paradigm is that Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) herds adjust the size of their home ranges depending on the availability of vegetation, which is directly related to rainfall. In Israel, Arabian oryx were released in two hyper-arid sites: the Arava Valley and in the Paran wilderness, belonging to the Sudanese and the Saharo–Arabian biogeographic zones, respectively. While post-release survival was similar in both, reproductive success in the Paran wilderness reintro- Citation: Landau, S.Y.; Isler, I.; duction site was extremely low, resulting in an acute decline of the reintroduced population over Dvash, L.; Shalmon, B.; Arnon, A.; Saltz, D. Estimating the Suitability for time. The hypothesis that impaired nutrition might be associated with this finding was assessed the Reintroduced Arabian Oryx (Oryx with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-aided chemistry of monthly sampled fecal pellets, used leucoryx, Pallas 1777) of Two Desert as remote sensing evidence of ingested diets, throughout a year.
    [Show full text]
  • Antelopes, Gazelles, Cattle, Goats, Sheep, and Relatives
    © Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical means without prior written permission of the publisher. INTRODUCTION RECOGNITION The family Bovidae, which includes Antelopes, Cattle, Duikers, Gazelles, Goats, and Sheep, is the largest family within Artiodactyla and the most diverse family of ungulates, with more than 270 recent species. Their common characteristic is their unbranched, non-deciduous horns. Bovids are primarily Old World in their distribution, although a few species are found in North America. The name antelope is often used to describe many members of this family, but it is not a definable, taxonomically based term. Shape, size, and color: Bovids encompass an extremely wide size range, from the minuscule Royal Antelope and the Dik-diks, weighing as little as 2 kg and standing 25 to 35 cm at the shoulder, to the Asian Wild Water Buffalo, which weighs as much as 1,200 kg, and the Gaur, which measures up to 220 cm at the shoulder. Body shape varies from relatively small, slender-limbed, and thin-necked species such as the Gazelles to the massive, stocky wild cattle (fig. 1). The forequarters may be larger than the hind, or the reverse, as in smaller species inhabiting dense tropical forests (e.g., Duikers). There is also a great variety in body coloration, although most species are some shade of brown. It can consist of a solid shade, or a patterned pelage. Antelopes that rely on concealment to avoid predators are cryptically colored. The stripes and blotches seen on the hides of Bushbuck, Bongo, and Kudu also function as camouflage by helping to disrupt the animals’ outline.
    [Show full text]
  • Gnusletter October2014 II.Indd
    Volume 32 Number 1 ANTELOPE SPECIALIST GROUP October 2014 GNUSLETTER VOL. 31 NO. 1 In this Issue... From the Gnusletter Editor • This issue: S. Shurter Reports and Projects • “Five Minutes to Midnight” for Arabian gazelles in Harrat, Uwayrid, northwestern Saudi Arabia. T. Wron- ski, T. Butynski • Have protected areas failed to conserve Nilgai in Nepal? Hem Sagar Baral • Large mammals back to the Gile’ National Reserve, Mozambique. A. Fusari, J. Dias, C.L. Pereira, H. Bou- let, E. Bedin, P. Chardonnet • Status of Hirola in Ishaqbini Community Conservancy. J. King, I. Craig, M. Golicha, M.I. Sheikh, S. Leso- wapir, D. Letoiye, D. Lesimirdana, J. Worden Meetings and Updates • Dama Gazelle Workshop, H. Senn Recent Publications • Historical incidence of springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) in the northeastern Cape: J.M. Feely. South African Journal of Wildlife Research • A Retrospective Evaluation of the Global Decline of Carnivores and Ungulates. M. DiMarco, L. Boitani, D.Mallon, M. Hoffman, A. Iacucci, E. Meijaard, P. Visconti, J. Schipper, C. Rondinini. Conservation Biol- ogy • Just another island dwarf? Phenotypic distinctiveness in the poorly known Soemmerring’s Gazelle, Nanger soemmerringi of Dahlak Kebir Island. G. Chiozzi, G. Bardelli, M. Ricci, G. DeMarchi, A. Cardini. Biologi- cal Journal of the Linnean Society • Response to “ Are there really twice as many bovid species as we thought?” F.P.D. Cotterill, P.J.Taylor, S. Gippoliti, J.M. Bishop, C. Groves. Systematic Biology Antelope News • CITES Notifi cation to the Parties – Tibetan Antelope ISSN 2304-0718 page 6 GNUSLETTER VOL. 31302932 NO. 1 From the Gnusletter Editor... presence of Arabian gazelles has not been confi rmed at any of the north-western sites since before 2002 and, for most sites, not since Antelope aren’t on the news forefront in this age of social media the mid-1990s.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Taxa for Which MIL Has Images
    LIST OF 27 ORDERS, 163 FAMILIES, 887 GENERA, AND 2064 SPECIES IN MAMMAL IMAGES LIBRARY 31 JULY 2021 AFROSORICIDA (9 genera, 12 species) CHRYSOCHLORIDAE - golden moles 1. Amblysomus hottentotus - Hottentot Golden Mole 2. Chrysospalax villosus - Rough-haired Golden Mole 3. Eremitalpa granti - Grant’s Golden Mole TENRECIDAE - tenrecs 1. Echinops telfairi - Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec 2. Hemicentetes semispinosus - Lowland Streaked Tenrec 3. Microgale cf. longicaudata - Lesser Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec 4. Microgale cowani - Cowan’s Shrew Tenrec 5. Microgale mergulus - Web-footed Tenrec 6. Nesogale cf. talazaci - Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec 7. Nesogale dobsoni - Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec 8. Setifer setosus - Greater Hedgehog Tenrec 9. Tenrec ecaudatus - Tailless Tenrec ARTIODACTYLA (127 genera, 308 species) ANTILOCAPRIDAE - pronghorns Antilocapra americana - Pronghorn BALAENIDAE - bowheads and right whales 1. Balaena mysticetus – Bowhead Whale 2. Eubalaena australis - Southern Right Whale 3. Eubalaena glacialis – North Atlantic Right Whale 4. Eubalaena japonica - North Pacific Right Whale BALAENOPTERIDAE -rorqual whales 1. Balaenoptera acutorostrata – Common Minke Whale 2. Balaenoptera borealis - Sei Whale 3. Balaenoptera brydei – Bryde’s Whale 4. Balaenoptera musculus - Blue Whale 5. Balaenoptera physalus - Fin Whale 6. Balaenoptera ricei - Rice’s Whale 7. Eschrichtius robustus - Gray Whale 8. Megaptera novaeangliae - Humpback Whale BOVIDAE (54 genera) - cattle, sheep, goats, and antelopes 1. Addax nasomaculatus - Addax 2. Aepyceros melampus - Common Impala 3. Aepyceros petersi - Black-faced Impala 4. Alcelaphus caama - Red Hartebeest 5. Alcelaphus cokii - Kongoni (Coke’s Hartebeest) 6. Alcelaphus lelwel - Lelwel Hartebeest 7. Alcelaphus swaynei - Swayne’s Hartebeest 8. Ammelaphus australis - Southern Lesser Kudu 9. Ammelaphus imberbis - Northern Lesser Kudu 10. Ammodorcas clarkei - Dibatag 11. Ammotragus lervia - Aoudad (Barbary Sheep) 12.
    [Show full text]
  • Status Report for the Arabian Leopard in the Sultanate of Oman
    Status Report for the Arabian Leopard in the Sultanate of Oman James A. Spalton1, Hadi M. Al Hikmani1, Mansoor H. Jahdhami1, Abdulkarder A. A. Ibrahim2, Ali S. Bait Said3 and David Willis4 1 Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, PO Box 246, Muscat 113, Sultanate of Oman <[email protected]> 2 Directorate General of Royal Farms & Gardens, Royal Court Affairs, PO Box 787, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman 3 Directorate General of Environment, Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment & Water Resources, PO Box 2035, Salalah 211, Sultanate of Oman 4 PO Box 238, Al Khuwair 133, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Once widespread in the mountains of Oman the Arabian leopard disappeared from the Hajar range in 1976 and has not been recorded in the Musandam Governorate since 1997. However, it continues to survive through much of the Dhofar Mountains. The first significant step to conserve the Arabian leopard was taken in 1985 when the region’s first captive breeding group was established. Further important steps were taken in 1997 when Jabal Samhan, a part of the Dhofar Mountains, was declared a Nature Reserve. In the same year the Arabian Leopard Survey was launched and since that time field surveys, camera-trapping and tracking of leopards fitted with GPS satel- lite collars has not only revealed vital information on the ecology of this species but has helped to keep this flagship species in the public eye. While new work, from ecotourism initiatives to molecular scatology, is underway further bold steps need to be taken if we are to conserve Oman’s and perhaps the regions’ last wild Arabian leopard population.
    [Show full text]