Sharjah: Two rare Arabian tahrs have been born at the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in the past two months.

The medium-sized, goat-like animal is classified as an endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The list is widely recognised as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plants and animals.

The Arabian tahr’s population is estimated to be fewer than 2,500 according to the list.

The female normally gives birth to one tahr in early spring, following a 170-day pregnancy. The number of tahrs born since the beginning of 2013 is 29, which reflects the extent of the efforts at the breeding centre.

Tahrs usually inhabit arid mountain slopes and bare cliffs with water and are most often observed between 200 and 1,800 metres above sea level. They can be found in northern Oman in the Hajar mountains, Wadi Sireen in the eastern Al Hajar mountains and Jebel Qahwan and in small numbers in the northeast of the UAE, Jebel Hafeet and Wadi Al Wuraya in Fujairah.

There is considerable variation in the characteristics exhibited by female and male tahrs. In general, the tahr’s coat is generally rusty to sandy brown in colour. Females are similar to males in appearance but have shorter hair and the dorsal crest and facial markings are less clearly defined. Both sexes have short horns but in males the horns are flatter, stronger, and more noticeably curved backwards and are close together at the base in front. The females’ horns are smaller and less noticeably curved.

The tahr lives individually or in small family groups consisting of two or three animals. The male tahr marks its territory by scraping the ground with its horns and hooves. They can withstand a lack of water for long periods, which can extend to two to three days during the summer, if there are good plants.

Some Arabian tahrs can be seen at Arabia’s Wildlife Centre at Sharjah Desert Park.

The breeding centre is under the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA).