Without restoration, the only other means of maintaining genetic connections between populations would be translocations of Arabian tahr. Restoring habitat corridors leading to road underpasses may provide our best chance of reconnecting the mountains for wildlife. Underpasses are generally wide and known to be used by several wildlife species. The underpasses have great potential to provide passageways under busy roads and act as wildlife corridors. Due to the numerous flash floods experienced in the Hajar Mountains, roads are equipped with frequent underpasses to allow drainage of rainwater. Although poor connectivity has the potential to reduce the genetic exchange and viability of tahr in the long term, as the population is currently genetically viable, restoration of corridors and connectivity is a current priority. Recent research has highlighted poor habitat connectivity between tahr populations, mainly due to numerous highways disrupting travel corridors. Many Arabian tahr live in the mountains surrounding Muscat which are free of domestic goats, poachers, and other disturbances. A mature male Arabian tahr photographed in a mountain next to a busy highway and a residential area of Muscat, Oman in the background. The protected area recently had Arabian tahr populations, and the habitats there are highly suitable for the species.įig. Wadi Wurayah National Park in the UAE is perhaps the most suitable option for reintroduction. Although the intension of many Arabian tahr collections is to conserve the species, no serious attempts have been made to release captive bred Arabian tahr. There is a large captive population of Arabian tahr in the UAE (> 500), held in private, zoological, and government collections. Encouragingly, several governmental programs have started to engage with local people in this way.Īs many Arabian tahr sub-populations have been extirpated, reintroduction and reinforcement are viable options for areas where the original threats to tahr have been removed. Programs and actions to engage with and increase local people's awareness of the status of the Arabian tahr and communicate how unique and regionally important the species is, may be the best defense against poaching. Despite being legally protected, poaching occurs outside of protected areas which are more difficult to regularly patrol and enforce the law. Outside of protected areas the only protection Arabian tahr have is the natural inaccessibility of their habitat, and undoubtedly this is the main reason the species has persisted up until now. As the protected areas are staffed and patrolled by rangers, they provide a sanctuary from poachers. As only part of each protected area is occupied by Arabian tahr, the total area of tahr habitat under protection amounts to approximately 663.4 km 2. Steven Ross, Mansoor Al Jahdhami, in Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, 2021 Conservation actions and opportunitiesĪrabian tahr occur within several of Oman's protected areas including the Jabal Al Akhdar Sanctuary for Natural Scenery (125.9 km 2), As Salil Natural Park (220 km 2), Jabal Qahwan Nature Reserve (285.5 km 2), Ras Ash Shajar Nature Reserve (106.3 km 2), and Wadi As Sareen Nature Reserve, (740.1 km 2).
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