United Arab Emirates

Arabian Gazelle, Gazella arabica 

I first visited the UAE  in 2007, for a 24 hour layover in Dubai. My  only attempt at mammal watching was a trip to the desert at night in a Humvee which I managed to get bogged within three minutes. I didn’t find any Jerboas but I did eventually find a helpful camel herder with a quad bike to help dig me out.

I returned in February 2017 for 5 days work, and squeezed in some mammal time.

Dubai

Arabian Oryx, Oryx leucoryx. Semi-domesticated at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.

Desert Conservation Reserve

Arabian Jird, Meriones arimalius

I spent a couple of hours here one morning on a tour of the reserve (thank you Tamer Khafaga) and saw many of the semi-domesticated Arabian Oryx, several of the wild Arabian Gazelles (Gazella arabica) and a couple of  Arabian Sand Gazelles (Gazella marica).

I left some traps out overnight and returned well before dawn the next morning. An hour’s spotlighting along the main road produced three species, all of which were lifers for me: an Arabian Jird, dozens of Cheesman’s Gerbils plus a Baluchistan Gerbil or two.

Cheesman’s Gerbil, Gerbilus cheesmani

My traps did well and I caught  about 15 Cheesman’s Gerbil, two Baluchistan Gerbils and an Arabian Jird.

Baluchistan Gerbil, Gerbilus nanus

Abu Dhabi

Jebel Hafeet

Jebel Hafeet (Al Ain)

Paul Carter gave me a hot – well luke warm – tip for a site for the rare Arabian Tahr and, after a few hours of scanning around the Mercure Hotel, I saw a pair of animals on a distant ridge just before sunset. More details in the trip report below.

Arabian Tahr, Arabitragus jayakari