Oman Expedition 2012
This was a BSES science expedition in conjunction with the Oman Office of Conservation and the Envionment. The expedition’s objective was to survey the biodiversity of two uniquely different areas and the expedition was therefore split into two phases.
- Phase 1 would be desert based. Our area of exploration would be deep within the Rub Al Khali desert (The Empty Quarter) approximately 20km north of Al Hashman.
- Phase 2 would be based in the western Dhofar area where we would establish ourselves in Wadi Saiq. Whilst there we hoped to conduct a research survey on the critically endangered Arabian Leopard, of which the numbers are reported to be less than 200 spread over the mountainous western Dhofar region and into Yemen.
Both phases were uniquely different in terms of the physical terrain and the flora and fauna. The expedition armed with the latest in
Bushnell camera technology set about strategically placing them in locations throughout the desert. This was done by scouting on foot for tracks and scat which could indicate the presence of sand cats, fox and small mammals.
The desert is an elusive environment for watching wildlife. The signs are there to indicate their presence but unfortunately the day time heat keeps them hidden away in small burrows. Bushnell movement activated camera traps with infrared night shot allowed us to capture at night, what we didn’t see in the day. The results were – foxes, desert hare and camels. However it wasn’t all success, on returning to a camera trap positioned next to a water well we were excited by the number of birds using the camera trap as a perch. Unfortunately not one was actually caught on camera!
After a month in the desert we moved to the western Dhofar. A small fishing boat dropped my small team off on the beach of Wadi Kharfout. Traveling from the desert to the coast we were overwhelmed by the abundance of wildlife. Osprey and eagles were only a few of the many birds. Dolphins and turtles could be seen off the beach. We hadn’t even walked into the Wadi yet!
Within hours I knew Wadi Kharfout was going to be something special. Our first day exploring the wadi revealed leopard prints and wolf scat. I tracked the prints to a likely ambush site and placed a camera trap.
I walked away never thinking I would get a shot of an Arabian Leopard.
Two weeks later the camera was checked. Arabian leopard, hyena, honey badger, rock hyrax and a quite a few cows all caught on camera!
The dese
rt phase also threw up a few other surprises, one of which was the number of stoneage flint tools, arrow heads and spear tips found at a variety of random locations.
Post expedition research reveals them to be Nubian Complex.
So what is Nubian Complex ? Check out the link http://bit.ly/STtXfD
View more images of the expedition in our gallery page.
