The wildlife in Saudi Arabia includes many different types of wild animals which the Kingdom is exerting efforts to preserve them from extinction. There are 60 species of lizards, 34 species of snakes, nine species of turtles, seven species of amphibians, the blind snake, small burrows, desert cobras which are rare or endangered snakes, as well as many other wild animals.
The Saudi Wildlife Authority has worked to protect them from the threat of extinction since its founding in 1986. It has also allocated Saudi royal reserves to preserve wildlife, animal and plant diversity, and stimulate eco-tourism.
Most Famous Animals that Live in Saudi Arabia:
Arabic Tiger
It is the smallest species of tiger and among the most endangered wild animals in the world; it can be found in the mountains along the western coast of the Kingdom.
The Arabian leopard has also been seen in the Jebel Shada Reserve, and many measures have been taken to help protect the Arabian leopard from extinction. There are about 50 Arabian leopards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Deer
Deer are spread in several protected areas in the Kingdom, such as Hurra Al Hurra Reserve, Al-Tubaiq Reserve, Farasan Islands Reserve, and Uruq Bani Maarid Reserve.
A new generation of deer has recently been born in the Al-Hala area of Sharaan Reserve. The reserve authorities has taken this initiative to preserve and protect the environmental balance.
Wolves
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the habitats of the Arabian wolf, which is a small desert wolf that is a subspecies of the gray wolf. These wolves are found in the Harrat Al Hurra Reserve, the Raydah Reserve, the Majma’ Al Hadab Reserve, and the Jabal Shaddah Reserve.
Sand cats
It is a sandy-coloured, broad-headed nocturnal cat, which can be found in the Harrat Al Harah Reserve and the Ibex Reserve in Saudi Arabia.
Wild rabit
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to wild rabbits and Arabian rabbits. Wild rabbits can be found in Saudi Arabia in the Al-Tubaiq Reserve and the Majma’ Al-Hadab Reserve.
Ibex
It is a type of mountain goat, but it is relatively small in size. It also has a brown sandy body, a white belly, and legs with black and white markings.
Wild caribou can be found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Ibex Reserve, as well as in the Al-Tabeek Reserve and Al-Raydah Reserve.
Ruble Fox
It is a small, sand-colored fox that is much smaller than the familiar red fox. These foxes can be found in Al-Tuwaiq Reserve and the Humpback Groups Reserve.
Arabian oryx
The Arabian oryx in Saudi Arabia has not been found in the wild since the 1970s. However, the captive-bred Arabian oryx, which is considered one of the best types of Arabian oryx, was reintroduced to the Mahazat Al-Sid reserve about 20 years ago.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has played a major role in preserving this type of oryx, and it also owns a large number of Arabian oryx reserves.
Baboons
A social animal found in southwestern Saudi Arabia, especially in the mountainous highlands such as Abha, Al-Baha, and Taif. There are four types of baboons: yellow, olive, sacred baboons, and guinea.
Lion
Lions lived in abundance in the forests and open areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Lions, lionesses, and young cubs were predatory carnivorous animals.
Striped Hyena
It is an endangered animal and there is a decline in its number in the south of the Kingdom. The striped hyena lives a nomadic lifestyle, continuing to travel. It is part of Eastern folklore. There are reports that it was a delicacy among some families in the Middle East.
Mongoose
Two types of mongoose live in southern Saudi Arabia, the first is the gray mongoose and is found in Al-Ahsa and Qatif, and the second is the white-tailed mongoose.
There are more than 30 species of Red Sea fish in western Saudi Arabia. There are also more than 100 species of reptiles spread throughout the Kingdom’s regions, such as poisonous snakes, turtles, and lizards. In addition to more than 146 different types of wild birds, most notably: hawks, eagles, owls, geese, and ducks. There are a number of animals that have completely gone extinct in the Kingdom due to overhunting, such as the cheetah, which used to live in the southern and northern regions of the Kingdom.
How Does Saudi Arabia Preserve Wildlife?
The Kingdom is rich in many Saudi natural reserves due to its strategic location, a major stop for the migration of millions of birds, and a unique haven for some endangered animals. As a result, Saudi nature reserves are among the most important eco-tourism destinations in the Kingdom.
Harrat al-Hairah Protected Area in northern Saudi
This reserve is distinguished by being the first Saudi natural reserve established in the Kingdom, with an area of up to 14 thousand square kilometers of desert plains and volcanic plateaus. The reserve is located in the far north of Saudi Arabia with the Jordanian border. The reserve includes many animals, such as: the roe deer, the Arabian wolf, the desert cat, the red fox, the bustard, and the golden eagle.
Umm Al Qamari Islands Reserve
The islands of Umm Al-Qamari Al-Baraniya and Al-Fawqaniya are located in the southwest of Al-Qunfudhah Governorate in the Red Sea. This name was given to this reserve as a result of the large number of gecko birds there. The two islands also include different types of sea and land birds, such as seagulls, pink pelicans, herons, and African harpies, as well as a haven for a large group of marine creatures and coral reefs.
Al-Khanfa Reserve
This reserve, one of the most beautiful natural reserves in Saudi Arabia, is located on the western edge of the Great Nafud Desert, north of the city of Taima, and extends over an area of up to 20 thousand square kilometers of wide plains and sandy deserts. Among the animals present there are: deer, foxes, hares, reptiles, and various types of resident and visiting birds such as eagles, bustards, and curlews.
Mahazat Al-Sayd Reserve
This reserve is considered one of the first natural reserves in Saudi Arabia, and it is located northeast of the city of Taif. The vegetation of this desert reserve consists of sammar, sarh, murru trees and some other desert plants such as ramth, brambles, and thumam. The reserve also includes various types of animals, such as the Arabian wolf, sand fox, sand cat, rodents, reptiles, and birds, including the bald eagle and the whelk.
Al-Tabaiq Reserve
This reserve is unique in its rugged rocks and is located in northwestern Saudi Arabia, bordering the Kingdom of Jordan. The reserve includes acacia trees, brambles, some shrubs and herbs. There are many animals such as the deer, the Arabian wolf, the Nubian ibex, foxes, hares, and some types of reptiles and resident and visiting birds.
Ibex reserve
This reserve consists of rocky cliffs and steep valleys in the west of Hotat Bani Tamim. This reserve was given this name because it inhabits ibex, mongooses, hyraxes, wild cats, foxes, wolves, rabbits, and poisonous and non-venomous snakes. It also includes various types of birds such as sand quacks, mountain pigeons, crows, hawks, goshawks, and ospreys.
Farasan Islands Reserve
This reserve consists of 84 islands in the southeastern part of the Red Sea, about 42 kilometers from the coast of the Jazan region; it shines with seabirds such as pink pelicans, seagulls, and flamingos, and marine animals such as dugongs, sea turtles, and rays. Most importantly of all, this reserve is home to the largest herd of deer in the Kingdom.
Al-Khanfa Reserve
This reserve is located in northern Saudi Arabia on the western edge of the Great Nafud Desert, north of the city of Taima. It extends over an area of 20,450 square kilometers. The reserve is characterized by a range of terrain such as sandstone, mountains, hills, plateaus, valleys, and sand.
Mount Aja Reserve
This reserve is located in the north of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It consists of a red granite mountain range that emerges from a flat area and is important for both plant and animal life. The Jabal Aja area has been classified as an important plant area for birds and biodiversity.
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