Carnivorous animals in Arabia

In coordination With Arabia's Wildlife Centre, Emirates Post has issued a set of 12 special stamps On the following Carnivorous animals of Arabia

Arabian wolf:
A true woltf ‘s eyes are yellow with a black pupil. Inhabits many regions of the Arabian Peninsula (mountains- gravel plains and coastal plains). Are usually seen in pairs, or small family groups. Hunting may be solitary exercise, but sometimes individuals cooperate to hunt for large prey.

Striped hyaena:

Live in dry desert area. Nocturnal. They do have a range of characteristic calls with which they communicate. Is an opportunist and scavenger. Female will give birth to 2-4 cubs in a den. Young are born at any time of the year. The largest carnivore.

Cheetahs:

Almost extinct and live in open desert country, semi-desert, desert plains and grasslands. Seen only in small family parties, consisting of a female and her cubs. Females are more territorial than males. Hunt In early morning, Speed of up to 70 km. P. h. Mating takes place after a 7-14 day courtship ritual.

Arabian leopard:
Is an endangered species. Shooting, poisoning, trapping and the wailing up of lairs have taken a heavy toll in recent years. They are shy solitary animals that only come together to mate. They are nocturnal, hunting at dawn and dusk. One of the seven recognized sub-species of leopard.

Sand cat:
Live in sandy J rocky areas and gravel plains. Solitary and nocturnal. The smallest of Arabian wild cats- only cat in Arabia that digs its burrow. Tufts of long wavy hair between the sand cat's toes help it walk on soft sand and protect its paws from the hot desert surface.

Gordon’s wild cat

Uncommon. Live in the mountains and all habitat, except in the soft sand areas. Solitary and nocturnal. Do not need drinking water because they take their required moisture from prey such as jird and jerboas- they establish their territory marks with urine sprays and droppings.

Caracal:

They were once widespread in open desert areas but now found mainly in the mountains. Solitary, territorial creatures which only come together to mate. They are the second largest wild cats in the U.A.E.

White-tailed mongoose:
It prefers areas with good vegetation and permanent water. Often found along the coastal plains and in the mountains. It's a nocturnal and solitary animal. During the day .it rests in rock crevices, amongst dense vegetation or in burrows dug by other species. Occasionally they may forage for food in the early morning or late afternoon.

Small-spotted Genet:

It is not uncommon In southwestern Saudi Arabia, but elsewhere its numbers are probably very low. Lives in Arabia, mainly found in coastal hills and mountain ranges. Are solitary, nocturnal creatures that rest in the rock caverns, crevices and dense vegetation during the day.

Jackal:

Extremely rare, it may no longer be found in southern Arabia. Prefers open country with sparse vegetational cover. Cooperative hunting greatly increases the chance of prey capture. Little is known about them in southern Arabia.

Ruppell's fox:

It IS found on stony and gravel plains but most particularly sandy deserts. They are territorial animals with a pair sharing an areas of between 30-50km. The day is spent in any place that provides shelter from the sun, but at dusk they emerge to hunt for food.  
The hairy undersides of the paws protect them from the heat of the sand.

Blanford’s fox:

Is only found in mountainous and rocky regions. Little is known of their social structure. It is believed that a pair will mate for life and establish a loosely defined territory. They are extremely agile, capable of climbing steep cliffs.

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