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Wadi Rum

I spent several weeks in Jordan on a couple of holidays visiting family in 1995 and 96. I went back for work in 2008. I didn’t get the chance to do a lot of mammal watching, indeed Jordan, like so much of the Middle East is not known for its wildlife (at least not since the locals took up hunting in such a big way). That said, most of what I saw was pretty interesting.

Dana National Park, December 1996 – Arabian Wolf, Long-eared Hedgehog, and Golden Jackal (quite common just outside the park). All seen while spotlighting

Wadi Rum, September 1995 & Oct 2008 – In 1995 I saw a Sand Cat (an exciting sighting – we were camping out back of Wadi Rum and I picked up one of these in the spotlight during a brief stroll), Cape Hare (which I think I saw here, if not it was in desert country near the Saudi Border). In 2008 I spent an evening at the Sunset Camp which has a beautiful view, good food but lousy facilities. During a 10 minute walk around the dunes I saw a Gerbil species and what was probably a Lesser Jerboa.

Petra