Sand or Goitered Gazelle
Gazella subgutturosa
The Sand Gazelle is the most common animal found on Sir Bani Yas Island.
The Sand Gazelle is well adapted to desert conditions and can derive most of its required moisture from the food it eats. It is found in the desert and semi-deserts of central Asia where its main defence against predators is its phenomenal running speed of up to 60 kms per hour.
The Sand Gazelle is classified as Vulnerable by the World Conservation Union.
Arabian Mountain Gazelle
Gazelle gazelle
The Arabian gazelle can be found along around the Arabian Peninsula, in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen.
It is highly adapted to live in harsh desert environments and can go without water for long periods of time, living only on succulent plants and dew drops.
It lives in small herds of 3-8 animals, and can reach running speeds of up to 65 kms per hour.
The Arabian gazelle is classified as Conservation Dependent by the World Conservation Union.
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena sultana
The Striped Hyena is native to Arabia and Africa. It is very secretive, solitary and nocturnal. The Striped Hyena can travel vast distances in a short period of time and has a long, black mane from the base of the head to the root of the tail.
Arabian Oryx
The Arabian Oryx is the largest of the antelope species. Its distinctive white body helps it to keep cool in summer by deflecting sunlight. It is used to the harsh desert environment and is able to live in areas with no trees or standing water.
The Arabian Oryx is the most endangered of the Oryx species and it has been extinct in the wild since the early 1960s. It is estimated that Sir Bani Yas Island, with over 400 individual animals, has the largest population in the world.
Cheetah
Acynonyx jubatus soemmeringii
The cheetah is known as the world's fastest land mammal. It is built for speed and can accelerate from zero to a full speed of 112 kmh in seconds. As the cheetah runs, only one foot at a time touches the ground. The cheetah's respiratory rate more than doubles to 150 breaths per minute during a high-speed chase. It can run at full speed for around half a kilometer before it is exhausted. Because of this it can be vulnerable to other predators, and as a result it's prey is often stolen.
Barbary Sheep
Ammotragus lervia
The Barbary Sheep is a species of goat-antelope and found in the arid mountain areas in Africa.
Barbary Sheep grow to around 80-100 cm tall and weigh 40-140 kgs. It lives off grazing material which it finds while scouring the mountain areas and doesn't need to drink as it is able to survive by the moisture it can absorb from the plants it eats.
The Barbary Sheep is classified as Vulnerable by the World Conservation Union.
Arabian Rock Hyrax
Procavia capensis jayakari
The Arabian Rock Hyrax is a small and solidly built indigenous desert dweller, with a short almost non-existent stump for a tail. Although classified as a mammal, The Arabian Rock Hyrax has a poor ability to regulate body temperature and have to rely on shelters to provide an environment of constant temperature and humidity. Several Hyraxes often huddle together to maintain temperature during long periods of inactivity. The Arabian Rock Hyrax has extremely sharp incisors, resembling dagger-like tusks, which are used mainly in defense.
Arabian Hare
Lepus capensis arabicus
The Arabian Hare is indigenous to the United Arab Emirates.
Adapted to the harsh desert environment, the hare is much smaller than its European counterpart and is therefore often mistaken for a rabbit, which does not occur in Arabia. Unlike the rabbit, the hare does not live in burrows, but spends the day motionless, with its ears folded back, relying totally on its camouflage, remaining in shallow scrapes under a bush or even in the open. The young hares, or leverets, are born fully furred with their eyes open and are able to survive without their mother from the seventh to the tenth day of their lives. The Arabian Hare does not need to drink water, as it obtains enough moisture from the grasses and shrubs it eats.
Northern Ostrich
Struthio camelus
The Ostrich is a large flightless bird native to Africa and formerly the Middle East. The fastest bird on land, it can run at speeds of around 74 km per hour. When threatened, the Ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground or will run away. It can cause severe injury with a kick of its powerful legs.
Ethiopian Hedgehog
Paraechinus aethiopicus
Hedgehogs are represented by three species in the UAE. Of the three, only The Ethiopian Hedgehog occurs on Sir Bani Yas Island. The hedgehog is a solitary nocturnal animal, spending the day in a sheltered location, emerging at dusk to hunt for insects and reptiles. As its spine offer poor protection against the cold it hibernates during the cool season, even in Arabia! In the U.A.E. it is found in the mountains, as well as in the desert and the coastal plains.