EXPEDITION REPORT - Biosphere Expeditions

Interviews were conducted in all zones. Interviewees showed similar attitudes towards
predators and prey in zones A - C. There was universal hostility towards wolf, hyaena and
caracal. Attitudes toward Arabian leopard were neutral to mildly hostile. Attitudes towards
gazelle and ibex varied. The most positive attitudes towards ungulate conservation were
found amongst interviewees from zone A. Smaller predators such as fox were unpopular.
Hyrax, hare and game birds were popular hunting targets. Hunting of these prey animals
and of wild ungulates was evident throughout the research area and all zones were
affected.
The expedition also compiled bird, reptile and amphibian inventories drawing on the
identification skills of team members, local people and scientists. These inventories are
listed in the appendices. They are a record of what was seen during the expeditions’ time
in the field, but were not the focus of its research, so species present in the survey area in
2006 and 2007 may well have gone unrecorded.
Camera trap results
The camera traps tested performed well in daylight. Photographs taken in daylight were
of good enough quality to potentially identify individual leopards (by comparing coat
pattern) but no leopards were captured on camera trap during the expedition. The camera
trap in zone C malfunctioned, taking over 2000 photos, but all these were triggered by the
contrast of sunlight and shadow. This problem was experienced to a lesser degree in other
cameras placed on ledges in zone A. Photographs taken at night permitted the
identification of different species but were not of high enough quality to enable potential
individual leopard identification. Battery life was ≤ 3 weeks depending on the number of
photos taken. The cameras were easy to set up and viewing and storing images was
simple using the dedicated Cuddeback picture viewer. The camera trap test was not
designed to produce any quantitative data. Neither Arabian leopard, nor the wild ungulate
prey species were photographed, but other large and small carnivores were captured as
well as herbivores, birds and domestic livestock (camels). There was evidence of sarcoptic
mange in one fox photographed.
Table 2.3b. Summary of Camera Trap results. BC = Base Camp, WU = Wadi Uyun, WU WH = Wadi Uyun waterhole,
WH = Wadi Haydayd, JQ = Jabal Al Qara.
Camera Zone No of trap No of Animals recorded
days photos
1 WU BC A 21 61 Porcupine x 22, Arabian babbler x 3, camel x 2
2 WU HC A 20 33 Hyrax x 13, mouse (sp?) x 4, bird x 1
3 WU WH
(ledge)
4 WU WH
(waterhole)
5 WU WH
(wadi)
6 WH
(waterhole)
7 WH
(Ledge)
8 J Q
(ledge)
A 22 7 Red fox x 1, porcupine x 1, mongoose x 1, hyrax x 1
A 22 13 Camel x 7
A 22 100 Porcupine x 13, red fox x 4, Arabian partridge x 4, hyaena x
2, mongoose x 3, domestic cat x 2
A 14 Porcupine x 4, hyaena x 3, wolf x 1, camel x 1
A 14 19 Honey badger x 1
C 19 2325 Malfunction
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