IUCN Species of the Day: Arabian Tahr

 

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm)

Photo credit: David Insall

 

The Arabian Tahr, Arabitragus jayakari, is listed as ‘ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. This relative of the wild goat is confined to the mountains of northern Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The greatest threat to the survival of the species is the loss and fragmentation of its habitat, but illegal hunting and competition with livestock are also major concerns. In the United Arab Emirates, where the Tahr population is especially fragmented, conservationists fear that the results of inbreeding will increase susceptibility to disease and decrease fertility. In 2009, Wadi Wurayah Fujairah, was officially declared as the United Arab Emirates’ first protected mountain area.

In Oman, where the largest populations occur, they are well protected in the Wadi Sareen Nature Reserve under the Diwan of Royal Court. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs rangers protect populations in the Sharqiyah and the Western Hajar mountains. Protection of wild populations is essential, because several captive breeding programmes in Oman have shown the Arabian tahr to be difficult to breed in captivity.

 

Geographic Range of the Arabian TahrCredit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

 

To learn more about the Arabian Tahr, click here.  Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.

 

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To learn more about the Bush Warriors “Species of the Day” feature, please click here and read up on our initiative to raise awareness about the loss of earth’s biodiversity.

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