Driving through the open expanses of desert outside our cosmopolitan capital, it’s sometimes hard to imagine this dry land is home to so much wildlife. As it turns out, the UAE is thronging with all kinds of interesting animals that thrive in this harsh climate. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has given us the low down on 12 indigenous animals that are most in need of protection.

Caracal
Possessing tremendous speed and agility, the Caracal is a formidable predator capable of tackling prey two to three times its size. Though some might describe this desert wild cat as ‘cute’ with its oversized pointy ears, the Caracal’s long, powerful hind legs enable it to make incredible leaps up to three metres high and catch birds in flight by batting them from the air.

Dugong
Listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ in 2009, this ‘sea cow’ is the only marine mammal to feed exclusively on plants. Bu Tinah Island hosts the highest density of dugongs per square metre in the world. In the running as one of the new 7Wonders of Nature, Bu Tinah Island is closed to the public, but Marawah Biosphere Reserve is hoping to eventually allow visitors.

Saker falcon
A great favourite with falconers, the endangered Saker falcon is a large, powerful bird of prey. Listed as ‘endangered’, the saker falcon prefers open terrain for hunting. Highly agile and extremely fast, it hunts close to the ground and is capable of diving for prey at over 300 km per hour. See them up close at the Falcon Hospital
(www.falconhospital.com) in Al Falah.

Arabian Oryx
A highly social animal, the Arabian Oryx roams the deserts in herds of up to 30 individuals, often forming even larger groups. One of the most successful global conservation projects ever, the Arabian Oryx Conservation Programme has been instrumental in returning this beautiful beast to the wild. EAD’s massive Arabian Oryx Protected Area is now home to around 170.

Arabian Tahr
The Arabian Tahr is small, stocky and goat-like, with compact horns, and rubbery hooves that provide grip on steep, rocky slopes and cliffs. Endemic to the Hajar Mountains of the UAE and Oman, this woolly animal – which once flourished on Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain – is now threatened by illegal hunting, competition with livestock and habitat degradation.

Blanford’s fox
Characterised by a long bushy tail and large conspicuous ears, Blanford’s fox is a secretive inhabitant of the mountainous regions of the Middle East. Abundant in the UAE, this inquisitive animal looks a bit like a cross between a cat and a fox. Strictly monogamous, Blandford’s fox is usually found in semi-arid mountainous regions at altitudes up to 2000m.

Sand cat
The Sand cat displays a number of characteristic adaptations that enable it to survive the Arabian deserts. Its broad, hairy paws can walk on burning hot sands, while the thick coat insulates against the cold nights – it survives the extreme temperatures by residing in a burrow during the day.

Dune sand gecko
As its name suggests, this wall-eyed amphibian can be found on the loose, windblown sands of dunes and sandy plains. During the day, it burrows in the sand, emerging at night to feed on insects and arachnids. It’s startled-looking eyes are bordered by large scales that provide protection from sand.

Greater flamingo
The Greater flamingo is the largest of all flamingos. A highly social species, it nests in large, dense colonies, often numbering as many as 20,000 pairs, or exceptionally up to 200,000 pairs. In Abu Dhabi, the Greater flamingo has bred successfully only three times in the past, the most recent being the discovery of new breeding colony in Bul Syayeef in 2009.

Socotra cormorant
Listed as ‘globally threatened’, these long-beaked birds have been observed flying single file over the sea. The current UAE population is estimated to be 20-30 percent of the total world population, and the UAE represents nearly 60 percent of all the known breeding colonies. Abu Dhabi’s Bu Tinah Island is a roost site for about 20,000-25,000 of these birds.

Pharaoh eagle-owl
The striking orange eyes of the small, attractive Pharaoh eagle-owl contrast sharply with its mottled plumage. The booming call of the male Pharaoh eagle-owl can often be heard at sunset.
The owl usually alights on a rocky perch and uses its acute hearing to detect prey movements before swooping down and snatching its victim in its powerful talons.

Hawksbill turtle
This beautiful marine turtle has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of commercial tortoiseshell. It has been estimated that this species has undergone a population decline of around 80 percent over the last century, and is currently seriously threatened by the black market trade, loss of nesting sites and accidental entanglement in fishing lines.

Vote for Bu Tinah Island
Cast your vote and help make Bu Tinah one of the new seven wonders of nature. UAE residents can text ‘Bu Tinah’ to 3888 (each text costs AED 2 and you can vote as many times as you want). Alternatively, vote online at www.vote7.com.

See for yourself
The Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort is home to all kinds of animals, both native to the region and from abroad. The Arabian Oryx is bred on-site at AWPR, the Saker falcon takes part in their twilight birds of prey show and the park is home to two sand cats that were conceived via IVF. Find out more at www.awpr.ae. See a smaller but well-maintained collection of animals on exhibit at Kids Park in Shahama; visit www.kidsparkuae.com.

Three more Abu Dhabi animals we love

Camel
Camels have been part of the local culture since the dawn of the human presence in the region. In fact, some historians believe the original Bedouins didn’t begin their nomadic travels until they domesticated the camel. See them up close at the Al Wathba Race Track just off Highway E22 on the way to Al Ain.

Saluki
Originally bred for hunting, the saluki first originated in Yemen and hunt by sight rather than smell. The Arabian Saluki Centre (www.arabiansaluki.ae)provides information about health, training, boarding and breeding, and the Strays of Abu Dhabi (www.straysofabudhabi.com) often have Saluki mixes for adoption.

Arabian Mau
The original Arabian house pet, the Mau was the first cat to be domesticated in the region about 1000 years ago. Since then, the Arabian Mau has preserved its distinctive characteristics. In 2008, the Arabian Mau was recognized as an original breed by the World Cat Federation. To take a look or adopt a Mau, visit www.mecats.net or call 050 646 2904.

Laura Faulton