Thursday 22 / August / 2024
Muscat: A heartwarming moment between a female Reem gazelle embracing her newborn baby for the first time has been published by the Office for the Conservation of Environment (OCE) to draw awareness to the endangered nature of the species.
In the photos, the mother is first seen sniffing her baby, before encouraging it to run. The gazelle is one of many species currently targeted by conservation efforts in Oman
“Reem gazelles are endangered and found in the Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate,” said the OCE, which is run by the Diwan of Royal Court. “There are about 1,600 gazelles in the reserve, as well as 250 more released into the wild.”
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are 11 species of antelopes: five are found in the Arabian Peninsula, and six in North Africa.
The Reem is the name commonly given to both the Arabian sand gazelle, and the slender horned gazelle, which is found in Africa.
The Arabian sand gazelle is classified as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, which lists animals that are facing depletion. The slender horned gazelle, on the other hand, is listed as ‘endangered’.
“Antelopes are among the best-known animals of the deserts of north Africa and the Arabian Peninsula,” said the IUCN. “These species have adapted to some of the most extreme desert environments in the world and they have always been celebrated for their grace and beauty in the art and poetry of the region.
“Although well known in a general sense, close similarity between some of the smaller species of north Africa and Arabia has led to confusion,” added the organisation.
