Cunningham, PL

Wronski, T

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 Cunningham, PL and Wronski, T Arabian wolf distribution update from Saudi Arabiahttp://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/6887/ArticleLJMU has developed LJMU Research Online for users to access the research output of the University more effectively. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Users may download and/or print one copy of any article(s) in LJMU Research Online to facilitate their private study or for non-commercial research. You may not engage in further distribution of the material or use it for any profit-making activities or any commercial gain.The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the record. Please see the repository URL above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription. For more information please contact researchonline@ljmu.ac.ukhttp://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/Citation (please note it is advisable to refer to the publisher’s version if you intend to cite from this work) Cunningham, PL and Wronski, T (2010) Arabian wolf distribution update from Saudi Arabia. Canid News, 13 (1). ISSN 1478-2677 LJMU Research OnlineCunningham and Wronski  Copyright © 2010 by the IUCN/SSC Canid Sp The following is the established format for refCunningham, P. L. and Wronski, T. 2010. AraURL: http://www.canids.org/canidnews/13	Arabian wolf distribution Peter L. Cunningham1* and To 1 King Khalid Wildlife Research CentArabia and the Zoological Society ofNW1 4RY, UK.  Email:  pckkwrc@ya * Correspondence author : Arabian wolf, 	 A review of unpublished reports (gture) has confirmed the presence, atence, of grey wolves 	at least 13 protected or proposed areas in Saudi Arabia indicating thsynthesising and publishing such though wolves are still declining Arabia, various factors including wbituation to humans, scavenging ombehaviour, high reproductive rate, laranges, long daily movements andtance dispersal may contribute to thtence and even re=establishment inareas and other sparsely inhabited lo		 Since the first Arabian wolf reconorthern and central Saudi Arabia (BDoughty 1888), their actual distribbeen sketchy with wolves never vbeing very common throughout thArabian wolf in1 Canidecialist Group.  ISSN 1478=2677 erencing this article:  bian wolf distribution update from Saudi Arabia. Canid News 13/Arabian_wolf_in_Saudi_Arabia.pdf. update from Saudi Arabiarsten Wronski1 re, Thumamah, P. O. Box 61681, Riyadh, Kingdom o London, Conservation Programmes, Regent’s Park,hoo.co.uk , distribution, Saudi Arabia.rey litera=nd persis= from protected e value of data.  Al=in Saudi olves’ ha=nivorous rge home  long dis=eir persis= protected cations. rds from lunt 1881, ution has iewed as eir range (Green 1986).  Although widesprout Saudi Arabia (Harrison andNader 1990, Nader 1996) most eations indicate wolves either fromtainous south western Asir, noareas bordering Jordan or the around Riyadh (e.g. Cheesman1924, Morrison=Scott 1939, BrNader and Büttiker 1980 and Ga1986).  Being an understudied spewolves are probably more widcurrently documented.  Globally is listed as  	 (LC) population trend (Mech and Boitis listed in Appendix II of CITES The status of wolves in Saudi Acult to determine due to a lack ofsystematic census, although estbers of between 500 and 600 (Mtani 2004) and 600 and 700 (Nadmals have been published.  Thecensus in Saudi Arabia to date wduring late 1999 and early 2000 bal. (2000) who concluded thatnumbers might be higher than th Saudi Arabia  News .1 [online] f Saudi   London, ead through= Bates 1991, rlier publica= the moun=rthern rocky central areas  and Hinton omage 1954, speretti et al. cies, Arabian espread than the grey wolf with a stable ani 2008) and (CITES 2008). rabia is diffi= research and imated num=ech and Boi=er 1996) ani= only official as conducted y Sinibaldi et  the overall ose published Cunningham and Wronski by Nader (1996) albeit still in a dtrend. In addition, very little is known presence of wolves in protectthroughout Saudi Arabia, with CGrainger (1990) providing some inin a system plan for protected areasof this paper is to update the distrthe Arabian wolf in Saudi Arabia protected areas by providing recenand data from unpublished field repcult to access from outside Saudi Ara 	Data were collected through a searliterature published from Saudi Arabing unpublished reports (grey litevarious authors, samples collectedwild and stored for genetic analyKing Khalid Wildlife Research(KKWRC) and recent (2008/2009) sigthe authors. Map of Saudi Arabia indicatin(●) are based on voucher specimens kepby KKWRC or NCWCD (National Commmembers between 1999 and 2009. One Doughty in 1888.  Arabian wolf in2 ecreasing about the ed areas hild and formation .  The aim ibution of and some t locations orts diffi=bia. ch on the ia includ=rature) by  from the sis at the  Centre htings by Although other earlier authors 1987, Child and Grainger 1990,Khan 1996) include wolves fromtected areas throughout Saudi Aport contributes recent evidenceings, dead specimens, tracks, scasses showing evidence of wolfprotected areas, proposed protecbiosphere reserves and partnerwhich there were no reports of wreferred to anecdotal evidence.    This paper confirms an additifirmed wolf sightings (i.e. live, prey) since 1999 (Figure 1) withcent sighting being of a female box trap on 15 November 2009 a30km north of Riyadh in central (P.L. Cunningham, unpublished   g previously unpublished records of wolves from Saudi At at KKWRC for genetic analysis. All specimens (n = 64)ission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Saurecord (○) indicates the second wolf sighting in Saudi A Saudi Arabia (e.g. Al Basri  Seddon and  various pro=rabia this re= – i.e. sight=cats and car= feeding – for ted areas and  agencies for olves or only onal 64 con=dead, tracks,  the most re=captured in a pproximately Saudi Arabia data).rabia. Records  were collected di Arabia) staff rabia made by Cunningham and Wronski Arabian wolf in Saudi Arabia 3 Of the 31 existing terrestrial protected areas (15 protected by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development and 16 by partner organisations) (Llewellyn, in press) the unpublished literature confirmed the presence/persistence of wolves from 11 of the 15 protected areas with supporting evi=dence for two other areas recommended for protected area status (i.e. Wadi Tarj and Wadi Turbah) (Table 1). 	 The Arabian wolf, against the odds, tena=ciously survives throughout much of its origi=nal distribution range in Saudi Arabia.  A lack of herding of domestic livestock and abundant and ubiquitous refuse in Saudi Arabia may also have contributed to the wolf’s successful persistence as they may achieve densities in relation to the available food source (White et al. 2008).  They suffer greatly from persecution with “hanging trees” – sites (often trees) tradi=tionally used to display wolves (as well as other predators such as striped hyaena , caracal   and leopard ) – testament to their encounters       Arabian wolf killed and displayed in a “hanging tree” in western Saudi Arabia.  with humans (Nader and Büttiker 1980, pers. obs.) (Figure 2).  Notwithstanding this perse=cution they are still viewed as numerous in certain inhospitable mountainous areas by Bedouin who often lose domestic stock to wolf predation (Sinibaldi et al. 2000).  Harsh moun=tainous areas elsewhere – e.g. Mongolia – have higher densities of wolves and seem to offer wolves a continued refuge (Kaczensky et al. 2008).  In a recent survey in the western Asir (An Namas/Bisha area) a relatively high en=counter rate of 0.12 wolf carcasses per km (Cunningham et al. 2009) was noticed.  Else=where, they are expected at lower densities and anecdotal evidence suggests that they are highly mobile seasonally in Saudi Arabia (S. Shah, pers. comm.).  The importance of estab=lishing and maintaining protected areas (in=cluding active enforcement thereof) in the mountainous areas of Saudi Arabia would not only benefit wolves, but also other species (e.g. ibex 	, and mountain gazelle ) facing a tentative existence.    Wolves may be able to re=establish in areas where active persecution is limited such as in certain protected areas, as recently confirmed  from the Ibex Reserve (approximately 180km south of Riyadh) in central Saudi Arabia (Wronski and Macasero 2008), with fresh tracks also found in the Mahazat as=Sayd pro=tected area (approximately 700km west of Ri=yadh) in central western Saudi Arabia after rains and calving of sand gazelle    (P.L. Cunningham, unpublished data).  Although their distribution is not con=tinuous (Mendelssohn 1983) such re=establishments could be supported by large home range size – e.g. 22 to 60km² (Afik and Alkon 1983, Hefner and Geffen 1999), long daily movements – e.g. 10.5km maximum straight line (Afik and Alkon 1983) together with long distance dispersals – e.g. 50 and 200km (Hefner and Geffen 1999) as reported from Israel. The greatest threat to wolves in Saudi Arabia is still similar to that stated by Mendelssohn (1983) i.e. increased human population and inevitable conflict leading to active persecu=tion, transferable canid related diseases (e.g. rabies) and better veterinary care of free rang=ing domestic stock thus limiting carcasses for scavenging and predation.  On the other hand, wolves have become habituated to humans (Hefner and Geffen 1999) and being opportun=Cunningham and Wronski Arabian wolf in Saudi Arabia 4 istic omnivorous foragers (Biquand et al. 1994, Hefner and Geffen 1999) with a high repro=ductive rate (Furley 1985) may ensure their survival in an otherwise marginal environ=ment.  Protected areas in Saudi Arabia with confirmed presence/evidence of wolves. 	   	Al=Jandaliyah = = Al Khunfah Prey Thouless & Tatwany (1989) At=Taysiyah = = At Tubaiq Tracks Wacher & Strauss (2000) Farasan Islands = = Harrat al Harrah Live sighting Green (1986), Wacher (1993) Harrat 'Uwayrid Anecdotal Child & Grainger (1990) Ibex Reserve Faeces, tracks, prey Wronski & Macasero (2008) Jabal Shada Anecdotal Child & Grainger (1990) Mahazat as=Sayd Tracks Cunningham (unpub. data) Majami' al=Hadb Anecdotal Child & Grainger (1990), Llewellyn (in press) Nafud al=‘Urayq = = Raydah Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Saja Umm ar=Rimth Dead specimen Sher Shah (2007) Uruq Bani M'Arid Anecdotal Al Basri et al. (1987) !   Al=Haraman ash=Sharifan Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Haram of Makkah Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Harrat Khaybar/Wadi Hadiyah Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Himma Al=Azahirah Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Himma Al=Fawqa’ Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Himma Al Humayd Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Jabal Aja’ Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Jabal Batharah/Wadi Turabah Anecdotal Gasperetti et al. (1985), Child & Grainger (1990), Biquand et al. (1994) Jabal Uthrub/Al=Balas Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Jibal Qaraqir Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Majami' al=Hadb (extension) Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Wadi ‘Iya’ Ballasmar Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Wadi Lajb/Jabal Al=Qahar Anecdotal Llewellyn (in press) Wadi Tarj/Jabal Jandaf Dead specimens Cunningham et al. (2009)  Anecdotal = no evidence of wolves provided – only mentioned wolves from these areas.  Prey = evidence of prey killed by wolves. Others = Partner Agencies, priority proposed Protected Areas & proposed Biosphere Reserves (NCWCD & partner agencies)    Cunningham and Wronski Arabian wolf in Saudi Arabia 5 "	#$ We hereby acknowledge H.H. Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, Secretary General, NCWCD for his continued support towards conservation efforts in Saudi Arabia.  Our appreciation also goes to Ernest Robinson (Director KKWRC, Thumamah) for comment=ing on an earlier draft of this note.   %Afik, D. and Alkon, P. U. 1983. Movements of a radio=collared wolf 	 in the Negev Highlands, Israel.   !" 32:138=146.   Al Basri, K., Grainger, J., Llewellyn, O. and Salama, M. 1987.   # !$ %$ &'( ) *+$, . National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 32 pp.    Biquand, S., Urious, V., Boug, A., Vila, C., Cas=troviejo and Nader, I. 1994. Fishes as diet of a wolf 	   in Saudi Arabia. * 58:492=494.   Blunt, A. 1881. $   -. (2 vols.). London, XXXII 273 pp. & X 283 pp.   Bromage, T. N. 1954. Wolves in the Middle East. , London, 22 April 1954: 703.  Child, G. and Grainger, J. 1990. $/!$ !0!	# /1 #  /$ – Appendix II. National Commission for Wild=life Conservation and Development, Riyadh, 335 pp.  Cheesman, R. E. and Hinton, M. A. C. 1924. On the mammals collected in the desert of cen=tral Arabia by Major R. E. Cheesman. $*!-9(14):548=558.  CITES 2008. CITES Appendices I, II & III. 233  Cunningham, P. L., Wronski, T. and Al Aqeel, K. 2009. Predators persecuted in the Asir re=gion, western Saudi Arabia. 0! *4- 4:6.  Doughty, C. M. 1888. 5#$ (2 vols.) Jonathan Cape Publishers, London, I 623 pp & II 690 pp.  Furley, C. W. 1985. Notes on breeding the Arabian wolf (	  ) in captivity. !/$ 7:393=398.    Gasperetti, J., Harrison, D. L. and Büttiker, W. 1985. The carnivore of Arabia.  ! /$ 7:397=461.  Green, A. A. 1986. Status of large mammals of northern Saudi Arabia. * 50:483=493.  Harrison, D. L. and Bates, P. J. J. 1991. 5*!$. 2nd Edition. Sevenoaks, 354 pp.  Hefner, R. and Geffen, E. 1999. Group size and home range of the Arabian wolf (	 ) in southern Israel.   ! * 80:611=619.  Kaczensky, P., Enkhsaikhan, N., Ganbaatar, O. and Walzer, C. 2008. The great Gobi B strictly protected area in Mongolia – refuge or sink for wolves 	 in the Gobi? 0!) 14:444=456.  Llewellyn, O. In press. 1#/ !$!0!	#/ 1 #  /$. Na=tional Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Mech, L. D. and Boitani, L. 2004. !. In: Sillero=Zubiri, C., Hoffmann, M. & Macdonald, D. W. (eds) Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 430 pp.   Mech, L. D. and Boitani, L. 2008. 	 . In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 6 November 2009.  Mendelssohn, H. 1983. Status of the wolf in the Middle East. $ "  174:279=280.  Morrison=Scott, T. C. S. 1939. Some Arabian mammals collected by Mr. H. St. J. B. Philby, C.I.E. -#" 41:181=211. Cunningham and Wronski Arabian wolf in Saudi Arabia 6  Nader, I. A. 1990. Checklist of the Mammals of Arabia. !/$ 11: 329–381.  Nader, I. A. 1996. Distribution and status of five species of predators in Saudi Arabia.  !0!1 1:210=214.  Nader, I. A. and Büttiker, W. 1980. Records of the Arabian wolf 	   Pocock, 1934, from Saudi Arabia. !/$ 2:405=411.  Seddon, P. J. and Khan, A. B. 1996. $5($**2-# 6778. National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.   Sher Shah, M. 2007. !$!	    /.3' $1  . Unpublished Annual Report, Na=tional Wildlife Research Centre, Taif, 368 pp.   Sinibaldi, I., Sandouka, M. A., Boitani, L. and Nader, I. A. 2000. 9:   #!!	/$. Unpublished report, National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Ri=yadh, Saudi Arabia, 37 pp.    Thouless, C. and Tatwany, H. 1989. / $!;<67=7. Unpublished Report, King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre, Thumamah, Saudi Arabia, 22 pp.  Wacher, T. 1993. #2   > $ !. Unpublished Re=port, King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre, Thumamah, Saudi Arabia, 44 pp.  Wacher, T. and Strauss, M. 2000.  $5($2  /# ;* ?@@@. Un=published Internal Report, King Khalid Wild=life Research Centre, Thumamah, Saudi Ara=bia, 13 pp.  White, P. J., Lemke, T. O., Tyers, D. B. and Fuller, J. A. 2008. Initial effects of reintroduced wolves 	  on bighorn sheep <# dynamics in Yellowstone National Park. 0!)14:138=146.   Wronski, T. and Macasero, W. 2008. Evidence of the persistence of Arabian wolves 	 in the Ibex Reserve, Saudi Arabia and its preferred prey species. "*4 45:11=18.    &$ currently works as an ecologist for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) at the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre at Thumamah, north of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, studying the feeding ecology of reem (sand gazelle ) in protected areas in Saudi Arabia as well as assisting with the management of the species.  Previously he lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates and published extensively on a variety of topics from the region.  Most re=cently he was Head of the Nature Conserva=tion Department at the Polytechnic of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia.   	 '	"  currently works as an ecologist for ZSL at King Khalid Wildlife Re=search Centre in Saudi Arabia, studying the ecology of wild and re=introduced mountain gazelles in several protected areas of Saudi Arabia.  Previously he worked in Uganda and published extensively on the behavioural ecology and social organisation of the bushbuck 5 .  Most recently he carried out a postdoctoral study at the Uni=versity of Hamburg, Germany, working on the biogeography of East and Central African land snails.

Arabian wolf distribution update from Saudi Arabia

http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6887/1/C%3A%5CUsers%5CNSPTWRON%5CDesktop%5CBackups%5CWronski%20Back%20Up%5CKKWRC%5CCanids%5Cwolf%20status%5CArabian_wolf_in_Saudi_Arabia.pdf

Arabian wolf distribution update from Saudi Arabia

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