Dubai Zoo had a rickety female Arabian wolf. It died during the start of the 1990s due to old age.
This was the last known specimen of the animal that had been collected from the wildlife of the UAE. Former Dubai Zoo authorities said that the wolf was obtained from the desert around the mid-1970s.
During the past two decades there were a few reported sightings of wolf-like animals from the desert belt, but most of them turned out to be German shepherd dogs.
The Arabian wolf is a distinct subspecies of the European wolf or the wolves found in North America.
However, because of its preference for the desert or arid environment it seemed to be at least 40 per cent smaller in size and weight than the continental subspecies.
The Arabian wolf represents the southernmost range of the species. It lives in the harshest of the habitats occupied by wolves.
Scientists agree we have no living specimen of the Arabian wolf within the UAE.
Although it is known to be found in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman, it can no longer be seen in the other Gulf countries.
If anyone comes across an animal resembling the picture above, he could be sure of the presence of the wolf in the UAE.
If someone sees such a creature in the desert, please try to note the GPS reading and pass on the information to Dubai Zoo or other authorities.
