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The graceful gazelle of Ras al Shajar reserve
By Najah al Riyami -
One of the animals protected in the Ras al Shajar Nature Reserve includes the Arabian gazelle (also known as the mountain gazelle). This herbivorous mammal is of slender build with a long neck and long hind-legs. It has a brown coat with a darker tail and white underbelly. These beautiful creatures are very shy, they will often hide up in ranges of the Al Hajar mountains during the day, and come down to the exposed flat landscape, and sometimes across the sand-dune border of the nature reserve, to forage for shrubs and greenery at sunrise and sunset when the natural light is dim and the temperatures are cooler. This is also the time they are less at risk from predators -both human as well as animal — such as the Afghanistan leopard and the caracal lynx that also inhabit the grounds of this nature reserve.
The gazelles, however, prove to be a difficult catch to these predators. As well as being camouflaged against the sand and rocks with their beige/brown coat, they also have very good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell, being able to see and smell approaching danger from a distance.
What’s more, these gazelles are fast! When chased by a predator they can run up to speeds of an impressive 80 km an hour in bounding leaps. They have more endurance than their fellow predators who, while being able to run at faster speeds, can only maintain these speeds for shorter periods of time. The caracal lynx, for example, will lose stamina after just a few minutes of chasing its prey. It is essential, therefore, that it does not immediately run after the gazelle, but stalk it silently using sight and smell, waiting for the right moment when those few critical minutes of speed will lead to a successful hunt.
It is interesting to note that the Arabian gazelle is often found across the Arabian peninsula where there is a prevalence of Simr (Acacia) trees, this makes their prevalence in the Ras al Shajar nature reserve seem apt, duly named because of an abundance of this very tree. Currently, the well-being of the Arabian gazelle faces risks such as habitat loss and hunting. Nature reserves such as Ras al Shajar are therefore essential in maintaining their population and ensuring a rise in their numbers while still being able to live free and in their natural habitat.
The gazelles, however, prove to be a difficult catch to these predators. As well as being camouflaged against the sand and rocks with their beige/brown coat, they also have very good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell, being able to see and smell approaching danger from a distance.
What’s more, these gazelles are fast! When chased by a predator they can run up to speeds of an impressive 80 km an hour in bounding leaps. They have more endurance than their fellow predators who, while being able to run at faster speeds, can only maintain these speeds for shorter periods of time. The caracal lynx, for example, will lose stamina after just a few minutes of chasing its prey. It is essential, therefore, that it does not immediately run after the gazelle, but stalk it silently using sight and smell, waiting for the right moment when those few critical minutes of speed will lead to a successful hunt.
It is interesting to note that the Arabian gazelle is often found across the Arabian peninsula where there is a prevalence of Simr (Acacia) trees, this makes their prevalence in the Ras al Shajar nature reserve seem apt, duly named because of an abundance of this very tree. Currently, the well-being of the Arabian gazelle faces risks such as habitat loss and hunting. Nature reserves such as Ras al Shajar are therefore essential in maintaining their population and ensuring a rise in their numbers while still being able to live free and in their natural habitat.
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