Wednesday 08 / May / 2024
Muscat: The Arabian lynx has been spotted in the mountains of Dhofar Governorate.
The number of Arabian lynx in Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve in Dhofar Governorate has reached approximately 50, according to what was monitored by direct observations and camera traps monitored by the Environment Authority .
The Arabian lynx is one of the endangered species of short-tailed predatory cats, and is found mainly in the continents of Asia and Africa, including the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve. It was also observed during the last period in most valleys with dense vegetation in the central mountains and the western region of the governorate.
The Arabian lynx has been observed in the reserve since the 1990s, and is distinguished by its medium size and high speed compared to other wild cats.
Suhail bin Muhammad Al Mushaykhi, an environmental systems specialist at the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve, said that there are many reports received by specialists at the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve about the Arabian lynx. In 2021 and 2022, about eight reports of monitoring the Arabian lynx were recorded, including 3 cases using camera traps, while 2023 witnessed the recording of 7 reports, including 2 cases using camera traps.
Al Mashikhi added that the Arabian lynx has many physical and behavioral characteristics that distinguish it from other felines, most notably its extreme speed despite its heavy weight compared to other medium-sized cats, as Its average length ranges from 60 to 91 centimeters and its weight ranges from 6 to 19 kilograms. It has a relatively short tail that reaches a length of about 23 to 31 centimeters.
Regarding the efforts of the Environment Authority to preserve this animal and biodiversity in general, Al Mashaikhi stressed that the Authority is making great efforts by establishing legal and legislative frameworks that criminalize the violation of wildlife, whether in the reserve or outside it, in order to limit violations and create an imbalance in the environmental balance.
