Rare Arabian leopard spotted in Dhofar mountains
“An Arabian leopard enjoys the charm of nature and the picturesque ambiance of the khareef season in Dhofar as a result of conservation and protection efforts.”
“Known locally in the Dhofar Mountains as ‘Qadr, these endangered animals are active mostly at night due to relatively cooler temperatures, with their spotted markings varying from one leopard to another.”
Arabian leopards require large territories, mostly rugged mountain areas, in order to find enough food and water sources to survive. Traditional Arabian leopards hunt species such as the Arabian tahr or mountain gazelles In some areas hunting and overgrazing have forced the leopards to hunt mammals.
Where can the Arabian leopard still be found?
The Arabian Leopard used to be common throughout the Arabian Peninsula. However, only a small scattered Arabian leopard population now remains. Some can be found in the Negev Desert in the north of the Arabian peninsula. In the south they can be found in one location in the Republic of Yemen and one in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Arabian leopard is classified as Critically Endangered. According to official estimates there are no more than 250 mature individuals. The numbers are declining with a tendency towards extinction.
Fortunately, the leopard’s situation is more hopeful in Oman than in Yemen. Leopards of the Dhofar Mountains are benefiting from comprehensive conservation measures.
There is also an interesting article about the Arabian leopard in the Independent newspaper. Press here to go to the article.
Thank you for visiting ArabicOnline.Eu. Our award winning interactive courses of Modern Standard Arabic have been developed for anyone with a genuine interest in Arabic, whether for private, educational or professional reasons and are specially designed for self-study. Our website and our language courses are free from advertisements and we don't share any personal details of our visitors or registered members with third parties. Nor do we sell data for targeted advertising. We believe passionately that learning should be free from commercial distractions. For this reason we rely on subscriptions to fund the development of our products. Click here to find out more about our Beginner to Intermediate Arabic courses.
