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 We were overwhelmed by the response to the winter issue of Arabian Wildlife Magazine. Judging by the speed with which copies were snapped up — and the fact that the magazine was the most frequently "pinched" publication from dentists' waiting rooms — we must be doing something right! As a result we have doubled the print-run and made arrangements for a wider distribution of the magazine. We have also launched an on-line subscription facility so those readers who wish to remain assured of receiving future issues may now register and pay for subscriptions at our main web-sites: www.tridentpress.com or www.arabianwildlife.com.In February of this year we made a family trip to the UAE and Oman, driving from Dubai to Muscat to visit wildlife photographers Hanne and Jens Eriksen; and then flying down to Salalah, where we were house-guests of veterinary surgeon and novelist Maurice O'Scannail. It was an eye-opening visit and a wonderful reminder of the incredible richness and diversity of Arabia's wildlife. So much of our time in Arabia is spent in the cities and man-made environments, that we are apt to forget the natural world. A highlight of this particular trip was driving to the mountain village of Wakan and our walk up through the falaj irrigated orchards above the village. This must be one of Arabia's most picturesque villages and well worth the hair-raising drive. Just as this issue was going to press we received news of two new additions to the Arabian leopard family at the Arabian Wildlife Breeding Centre in Sharjah. The twin baby leopards, born to long-term resident Lucy between 11 and 12 on Monday 12 March are a great tribute to the management of the Centre and to the Sharjah government that has put so much effort into saving the Arabian leopard from extinction. Nothing is certain with this delicately balanced captive-breeding programme and we keep our fingers crossed for the health of these new additions to the leopard population. As this magazine also reports, a CAMP meeting was held at the centre in February when cooperation between the various organisations engaged in Arabian mammal conservation received a new boost. I trust that you enjoy this issue and please do let us have your feedback - either by email to: [email protected], or by snail-mail to our address in London or the UAE. Peter Vine
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