Pictures by Dr. A.A. Khathlan & Lobley |
Few people think of Saudi Arabia as a travel destination for eco-tourists and yet the country contains many fascinating wildlife habitats, including a number that have remained relatively undisturbed. Whether one is interested in marinelife, plantlife; invertebrates such as butterflies and other insects; reptiles, birds, mammals or other animals, it is likely that intelligent exploration will surprise and delight those who make the effort, and will open up a whole new dimension to one's perception of this vast country. Eco-tourism in Saudi Arabia is primarily focussed on internal travel by residents to areas of interest from a wildlife viewpoint. Despite the fact that it is not an international destination, within the general sense of tourism marketing, it would be a mistake to under-estimate the economic or social value of the country's domestic tourism sector or of the role that nature and wildlife can play in this. Saudi Arabia's impressive natural beauty was captivatingly portrayed in the three-part television series, Arabia Sand Sea Sky, which was broadcast all over the world and won major international awards for its wildlife photography and production standards. The fact that such films can be made in Saudi Arabia is an important indicator of just how valuable the country's wildlife is, both as a national resource and as a vital factor in the survival of many Arabian species. Bird-watching Saudi Arabia's birds are among the best studied aspects of its wildlife. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia (ABBA) project which has now been running for over ten years has accumulated much valuable information on the status of the Kingdom's breeding birds. The recent publication by BirdLife International of Important Birds Areas in the Middle East, lists 39 sites in Saudi Arabia and acknowledges that this may not represent the entire picture since over 100 sites have been ear-marked by NCWCD for protection and many of these are not well known from an ornithological viewpoint but may merit inclusion at a later date. Highlights of bird-watching in west and south-west Saudi Arabia have been reviewed in Arabian Wildlife in a two-part article on the subject, published in Vol 1, no 2 and in this issue. Other areas will be discussed in future issues. A brief summary of the major sites is given in the table on the opposite page . If contemplating a special journey within Saudi Arabia in order to enjoy the country's natural attractions, then these are some of the places that are worth visiting. There are of course many others and almost anywhere off the beaten track will reward investigation. Needless to say, proper customary, safety and regulatory procedures should always be followed. If in doubt about a certain area enquiries should be made beforehand. If planning to visit any of the protected areas then permission should first be obtained from the NCWCD (Tel: 01 441 8700; fax 01 4410797). Diving Given that urban and ribbon developments have taken a heavy toll on coral reefs and marinelife close to the major cities, such as Jeddah, and that the direct impact of divers on underwater habitats is an increasing threat to their survival as more and more people take up the sport, there is a real need to encourage environmentally friendly diving practices. These include no spearfishing, use of fixed moorings rather than anchors (which destroy corals); correct weighting of divers; careful use of flippers; a complete ban on any form of marinelife collecting whilst diving and the designation of special 'no-go' areas where marinelife is left undisturbed. Desert treks Flowers Shiela Collonette's epic book on the wild-flowering plants of Saudi Arabia contains 1700 pictures of over 1500 species. This is not the complete flora of the country but it does provide a vivid illustration of just how rich Arabia is in plantlife - something that many people find hard to equate with their perception of an arid wasteland. Wildflowers are as much in need of our protection as is the abundant marinelife mentioned above. Habitat loss and degradation through over-grazing by domestic herds, or by building developments, have played a major role in restricting the range of many species. Those that survive deserve better from us than to be picked or trodden on without consideration for their future. Fossil Hunting Among the most fascinating fossil-bearing areas of Saudi Arabia are the Miocene mammal-bearing sites on the eastern side of the country. The area around Ad Dabtiyah (26° 27'02"N; 48°35'24"E) has been investigated by members of the Department of Palaeontology of the British Museum who have discovered fossils of a group of animals which were once spread from Africa, across parts of Europe and into Asia. The creatures found here include the Asian mastodon, two species of rhinoceros, a new genus of hominoid regarded as in 'the sister group of the great ape' and remains of palm trees that suggest the area was once covered in woodland. Crocodile bones have also been discovered. Further information on this particular site is available in the following reference: Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. Vol 41 No 4 29, October 1987, in a report entitled: 'Miocene geology and palaeontology of Ad Dabtiyah, Saudi Arabia'. There are sites all over Saudi Arabia that yield interesting fossils. The above is just one of these fascinating examples. Cave-exploration and Rock Art Baboons Turtle-watching During the lives of these ancient and magnificent maturing reptiles the impact of man upon their natural world has increased significantly. Nevertheless, they have survived, and after running the gamut of monofilament fishing nets, fish and shrimp trawls, threats from increasingly fast and large commercial ships, pollution and loss of inshore feeding grounds, the males and females finally congregate in the shallow waters close to their traditional nesting beaches. In the Arabian Gulf, they start to come ashore in April and continue to do so for several months. It is an incredibly moving sight to watch the old females emerging from the moonlit waves in order to struggle up the beach, carrying their heavy load; and then to see the care with which they select a nesting site and delicately place their pearly white eggs in the beautifully excavated egg chamber. Given the effort that they have made to reach their nesting beaches and the continued threats to their survival, the last thing that any of us would want is that man's love for turtles, and our inquistiveness about their behaviour, should itself pose an additional threat to their lives. Thus 'turtle-watching' per se has to be a very carefully controlled activity. In the event that you come across nesting turtles on unprotected sites, then great care should be taken not to disturb them. In practice, what this means is that no lights should be shone towards the sea (discouraging other turtles from coming ashore), noise and movement should be minimized, and one should keep away from nesting turtles until they have completed their excavations and commenced chambering, immediately prior to egg-laying. At that stage a quiet approach will not put them off their task but one should take care not to disturb their efforts and it is enough to simply lie on the warm sand and soak in the timeless scene, like something from a prehistoric world. When the egg-laying is completed the turtles cover their eggs, energetically scooping or flinging the sand back over them as they climb out of the deep pit and crawl back down the beach and into the welcoming waves. Nature Photography USEFUL ADDRESSES: The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development
(NCWCD),
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