The Unfenced Desert Towards a strategy for eco ... - Nwrc.gov.sa
The Unfenced Desert Towards a strategy for eco ... - Nwrc.gov.sa
The Unfenced Desert Towards a strategy for eco ... - Nwrc.gov.sa
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Key animals : <strong>The</strong> following mammals are likely to be present, or have been<br />
r<strong>eco</strong>rded in Al-Khufah: reem gazelle, wolf (Canis lupus), Rueppell's fox (Vulpes<br />
rueppelli), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), <strong>sa</strong>nd cat (Felis margarita), wild cat (F. silvestris), ,<br />
ratel (Mellivora capensis), Ethiopian hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus), Wagner's<br />
gerbil (G. dasyurus), Sundervall's jird (Meriones crassus), Libyan jird (M. libycus),<br />
lesser jerboa (Jaculus jaculus). <strong>The</strong> area is a potential reintroduction site <strong>for</strong> Arabian<br />
oryx and ostrich.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no current bird list <strong>for</strong> Al-Khunfah.<br />
Probability of seeing top six key animals :<br />
Reem gazelle 2<br />
Sand cat 4<br />
Wild cat 4<br />
Arabian wolf 4<br />
Ratel 4<br />
Red/Ruppell’s fox 3<br />
Key sites : <strong>The</strong> large vegetated wadis, e.g. Wadi Nayyal in northern<br />
Ghurrub, are important grazing areas <strong>for</strong> the gazelles.<br />
Key seasons : Winter and spring is the breeding season <strong>for</strong> the gazelles.<br />
Cultural Features<br />
Traditional uses : Livestock grazing, particularly camels, and hunting of gazelle.<br />
Cultural importance : None known.<br />
Historical features : Some prehistoric sites, consisting of stone circles,<br />
petroglyphs, flint tools, and isolated gazelle traps.<br />
PA Infrastructure<br />
Border demarcation : A ditch a dike system has been constructed along the<br />
southern and parts of the western borders to deter illegal entry. In the north-east the<br />
reserve is delimited by the start of the deep dunes of the Great Nafud.<br />
Rangers/other staff : <strong>The</strong> reserve has a complement of between 25 and<br />
thirty rangers, including a head ranger and his deputy. <strong>The</strong>re are three mechanics<br />
and two cooks based at the main camp, and a cook at each of the other camps.<br />
104<br />
Responsibilities of rangers : NCWCD rangers primarily undertake patrols of the<br />
reserve's boundaries and interior, and s<strong>eco</strong>ndarily provide supervision of visiting<br />
groups, and assistance with broader monitoring and research programmes as<br />
required, including liaison with scientific staff and aerial patrols; maintenance of<br />
camps and reporting of incidental wildlife sightings;. NCWCD rangers are not officially<br />
empowered to arrest or detain offenders, nor to confiscate property.<br />
Ranger chain of command : Day-to-day management of rangers camp structures<br />
is carried out by the head ranger or his deputy, under authority of NCWCD head<br />
office staff in Riyadh.<br />
Camps and other buildings : <strong>The</strong>re are nine camps, at least one of which is<br />
partially mobile. <strong>The</strong> main camp(Bayan), in northern Ghurrub sector, is a large