Abu Dhabi: Breakthrough research for the conservation of the Arabian Tahr promises to increase the number of their species at the Hafit Mountain reserve and protect them from extinction.
Scientists have been able to freeze their sperm without any biological defects, thereby guaranteeing the protection of the genetic material to enhance artificial insemination methods.
For the first time, the isolation of genetic specifications has been made possible. This is vital to guaranteeing the genetic variety and avoiding hereditary problems and diseases.
As the rapid development of the country poses challenges to wildlife conservation efforts, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan commissioned a group of internationally renowned scientists at the Natural Protected Areas Section in the President's Diwan to carry out research for the conservation of the Arabian Tahr.
Translating results
The Arabian Tahr Protection project announced that with the new method to preserve the semen, they have created a sperm bank. One hundred and sixty one doses have been saved at the bank with 150 million sperms in each dose. A lab test has also been developed to allow scientists to distinguish the Arabian Tahr from similar animals, by analysing its hair.
Officials have started translating the results of the research into action since last month, this being the mating season for the species.
Studies were carried out in the field of supported reproduction, endocrinology, embryology, spermatology and genetics. However, the main part of the reproduction programme remains establishing the reproduction cycle of the animal, as females have a fertility cycle of 22 days, and a pregnancy period of 169 days. This information will be used to breed the animals more than once a year, with 20 females to be used in 2007.
Speaking to Gulf News, Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahman, the Undersecretary of the Department of Natural Protected Areas said the success achieved in preserving the Arabian Tahr reflects Shaikh Khalifa's keenness and commitment to protecting the UAE's wildlife.
He said scientists in the UAE have made a breakthrough by succeeding in freezing the animal's sperm.
Mubarak Sa'ad Al Ahbabi, Head of the department of Presidential Affairs, said that Shaikh Khalifa spared no effort to preserve the Arabian Tahr and that he had instructed that all resources be made available to make this project a success.
He added that the President issued orders to intensify scientific and research efforts, and concentrate on field surveys to enable scientists to draw a strategy to preserve this rare mammal.
- With additional inputs from Dina Aboul Hosn
Endangered: Only 2,000 left in the wilderness
The Arabian Tahr (Hemitragus jayakari) is a type of wild goat that exists only in the mountains of the UAE and northern Oman. It dwells on steep cliffs, feeding on the sparse grass and shrubs growing among the rocks. They descend regularly into the wadis to find water pools to quench their thirst. It was been classified as an endangered animal by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) Red List, since there are only 2,000 Arabian Tahr goats left in the wilderness.
Their number is constantly declining due to the destruction of their natural habitat by feral goats, as well as poaching.
One of the world's top class sanctuaries exists near Hafit Mountain in Al Ain. The Wild Reserves Department was established to protect the Arabian Tahr and other endangered animals from extinction, and the department's genetics section studies the genetics of the Arabian Tahr to improve the genetic qualities of the animal. The department also includes a hormone lab and a sperm bank.
