First record of the endangered Arabian Tahr Arabitragus jayakari (Thomas, 1894) in the Hatta Mountain Conservation Area, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Abstract
The Arabian Tahr Arabitragus jayakari is endemic to the Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula and is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Lack of scientific research from areas of its occurrence has been a challenge in determining its basic ecological aspects such as current distribution range, population status, and abundance. In the present study, we report a new distribution record for the Arabian Tahr from the Hatta Mountain Conservation Area in the Dubai Emirate through camera trap images. A total of 442 images (44 events) were obtained using three camera traps on 564 trap nights between March and December 2016. About 90% of the Arabian Tahr captures were recorded between 1100 and 1600 hr, indicating diurnal activity. This new occurrence record of the Arabian Tahr from this area is considered of high significance as it will drive in more studies and incentives towards the conservation and management of the species and the area as a whole.
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