Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta

The Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta (formerly the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary) is an animal sanctuary at Yaaloni in the Omani Central Desert and Coastal Hills. It contains rare fauna, including a free-ranging herd of Arabian oryx, the first since the species' extinction in the wild in 1972 and its subsequent reintroduction in 1982 at this site.

Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta
LocationOman
Coordinates19°42′0″N 57°0′0″E
Area27,500 km2
Established1994 (to World Heritage List) (the site is not legally protected)
Official nameArabian Oryx Sanctuary
TypeNatural
Criteriax
Designated1994 (18th session)
Reference no.654
RegionArab States
Delisted2007 (31st session)

The endangered houbara bustard breeds in the wild only at sites within the sanctuary. Other species found here include the largest wild population of the endangered Arabian gazelle, as well as Nubian ibex, Arabian wolves, honey badgers, and caracals.[1]

On June 28, 2007, the reserve was removed from the World Heritage Site register. UNESCO cited Oman's decision to reduce the site by 90% after oil had been found at the site and the decline of the population of Arabian oryx from 450 in 1996 to 65 in 2007 as a result of poaching and loss of habitat. At that time, only four mating pairs remained.[2]

In the sanctuary there are also 12 species of trees that provide habitat for a variety of birds.[3]

History

The Wildlife Reserve was declared a reserve by virtue of the Royal Decree No. 94/4 on 8/1/1994 [4] having its surface area adjusted by virtue of the Royal Decree No.2007/11 [5] along with changing its name into the Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate by virtue of the Royal Decree No.2011/79.[6] The surface area of the reserve has currently reached 2824.3 Km2.[7]

The reserve is home to many wildlife species most important are the Arabian Oryx which were returned to its natural habitat in 1982.[7] The Nubian Ibex, the Lynx, the Arabian and Sand dear, the sand cat, the houbara bustard and many other animals with wide spread of  Acacia tortilis: (Simr), the Ghaf tree and Acacia ehrenbergiana.[7]

There are four objectives for Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta. First, protection of biodiversity and ecosystems. Second, protection of important Human and archaeological, historical and geological features. Third, improvement of  the economic, social and cultural conditions of the local population through awareness and environmental education programs and involvement of the community in environmental activities. Fourth, promotion of Eco-tourism [7]

Biological diversity

There is extraordinary diversity in the reserve including different types of plants, animals, reptiles and birds.[7]

There are 12 type of local trees in the reserve including Acacia tortilis: (Simr), the Ghaf tree, Acacia ehrenbergian, the caralumma, the Nannorrhops ritchiana, and other local trees.[7]

Wildlife in the reserve is among the most diversified in the Arabian Peninsula. There also lives the red fox, the Ethiopian hedgehog. The Arabian Oryx amongst the most important mammals existing in the reserve in addition to the Arabian deer which abundantly exists throughout the reserve. Other animals include the Nubian Ibex, The Arabian wolf, the lynx, the striped hyena, the wildcat (Felis silvestris), and the honey badger.[7]

Almost 21 types of reptiles have been identified in the reserve including Saw scaled viper, cerates, the Monitor Lizard and Spiny tailed lizard.[7]

Almost 50 type of birds, mostly 50 types of migratory birds thanks to the fact that the reserve lies in migration corridors of many birds; such as European roller, Great flamingos and English plover visit the reserve after rainfall. Almost 30 type of birds live in the reserve over the year such as golden eagles, a number of Houbara Bustard and the Spotted Flycatcher[7]

See also

References
  1. "Arabian Oryx Sanctuary". unesco.org. UNESCO. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  2. "Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary : first site ever to be deleted from UNESCO's World Heritage List". unesco.org. UNESCO. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. "Oman eyes boost in ecotourism with new Oryx sanctuary". Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  4. "مرسوم سلطاني رقم ٤ / ٩٤ في شأن محمية المها العربية – Qanoon.om" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  5. "مرسوم سلطاني رقم ١١ / ٢٠٠٧ بتعديل الملحق المرافق للمرسوم السلطاني رقم ٤ / ٩٤ في شأن محمية المها العربية – Qanoon.om" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  6. "مرسوم سلطاني رقم ٧٩ / ٢٠١١ بتعديل اسم محمية المها العربية إلى محمية الكائنات الحية والفطرية بالمنطقة الوسطى – Qanoon.om" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  7. "The Wildlife Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate". www.ea.gov.om. Environment Authority of Oman. Retrieved 2022-04-28. Text was copied from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence – Oman.
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