The animal kingdom in Qatar

Qatar, it goes without saying, is rapidly developing day and night. People throughout the world have their eyes set on Qatar for numerous purposes. This is a country that has something to give for everyone, even the animal enthusiasts.

The following are some unbelievably amazing animals that one would find in Qatar.

1-      The Arabian Gazelle is the only native Gazelle species to Qatar and hence are protected very carefully in reserves. Locally known as the “Rheem”, they are slender, swift and so elegant.

2-      We all know the Arabian Oryx. At least we have seen an Oryx looking down upon us from the sigil of “Qatar Airways”. The Oryx is considered so important in Qatar that a Qatari Oryx called “Orry” was the official games mascot for the 2006 Asian Games in 2006.

3-      Next comes the animal which is also called as the “Lady of the sea”. In the past, the Dugong had been widely hunted for its meat and oil. It’s a very gentle animal and is a herbivore. It’s also the largest mammal in Qatar.

4-      Sand cats/Sand dune cats are the only cats to be found in the true deserts. Although, their vocalizations might sound quite similar to that of a domestic cat, they are also capable of producing loud bark like sounds- especially during the mating season.

5-      Honey Badgers or also known as “Ratel” is a carnivorous species. They are highly intelligent and one of the few animal kinds that can use a tool. They are also very untiring in combats and are believed to wear out even larger animals in fights.

6-      Golden Jackals are extremely adaptive animals. Many Middle Eastern and Asian folklore portray them as very cunning tricksters.

7-      The Horned Desert Viper is a very unique type of a snake, solely because of the two horns on its head. It’s very venomous and moves in the famous “sidewinding” manner by leaving whole body impressions on the desert sands.

8-      Desert Hedgehogs are one of the smallest hedgehogs. The young is born deaf and dumb. They gain their sight around 21 days after their birth.

9-      Falcons are quite popular in Qatar. They are widely used in hunting. Falconry is a sport introduced to Qatar by the Bedouins.

10-   Agamids are a family of lizards that are constantly hunted for their meat. They can grow up to two feet long and can weigh about ten pounds.

The above are just a few of the rich wildlife that can be found in Qatar. Have you seen any one or more of the above animals?