Arabian Wolf

The Arabian wolf is a wild predatory mammal among the mammals of Saudi Arabia, and one of the most prominent species found within the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.[1]

It plays a role in preserving ecological balance, enhancing biodiversity and stabilising the ecosystem in the Kingdom.[1] The competent bodies monitor the protection of wild species and the reintroduction of those threatened with extinction into their natural habitats, including the Arabian wolf and its pure lineages.[1][2]

The Arabian wolf has been recorded in several areas within the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, including the full protection zones: Harrat Al-Harrah, Al-Tubayq and Al-Khunfa.[1] The reserve holds more than 350 species of wild animals, comprising mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.[1]

Pure Arabian wolves have been returned to their habitat in the Northern Borders region, where their protection is followed up in Al-Qurayyah.[2] In AlUla governorate, Sharaan Nature Reserve aims to protect the area's sensitive ecosystem by providing a suitable environment for Arabian wolves, gazelles and the large-eared red foxes.[3]

The Arabian wolf plays an ecological role in hunting the weakest and diseased individuals, which prevents the spread of disease and ensures the continuity of healthy species.[1]

This role contributes to increasing biodiversity and protecting vegetation cover, and the conservation of predators is therefore one of the objectives of the bodies concerned with wildlife affairs in the Kingdom.[1]

The Al-Ra'an wolves are among the rarest types of pure Arabian wolves, and their scientific name is Al-Bayour.[2] The Al-Ra'an wolf is distinguished by its large size, and in winter it is covered with thick fur that protects it from the severe cold.[2]

13 wolves live in Al-Qurayyah in the Northern Borders region under the protection, care and monitoring of the competent bodies.[2] They are a pure lineage, free of hybridisation, which has led the competent bodies to protect the lineage from hybridisation or tampering.[2]

The competent bodies exert efforts to preserve biodiversity and to reintroduce endangered wild species into their natural habitats, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 for improving quality of life.[1] Efforts to protect and monitor Arabian wolves have preserved their pure lineages.[2]

The Al-Ra'an wolves are monitored daily for fear of their extinction and disappearance and of hybridisation entering them.[2] It has been recorded that the possible hybridisation of genetically modified organisms with grey wolves may lead to the loss of original genetic assets, which poses a risk to biodiversity.[4]

Field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security in Madinah region arrested violators for committing the offence of hunting an endangered wild creature, the Arabian wolf.[5]

The penalty for hunting endangered wild creatures reaches up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million riyals, or one of these two penalties.[5] The penalty for hunting the Arabian wolf is a fine of 80,000 riyals, and the penalty for using shotguns in hunting is a fine of 100,000 riyals.[5]

Q: What is the Arabian wolf? A: A wild predatory mammal among the mammals of Saudi Arabia, and one of the most prominent species within the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.[1]

Q: What is its role in the ecosystem? A: It hunts the weakest and diseased individuals, preventing the spread of disease and ensuring the continuity of healthy species, and it contributes to increasing biodiversity and protecting vegetation cover.[1]

Q: How many Al-Ra'an wolves are under protection? A: 13 wolves in Al-Qurayyah in the Northern Borders region; they are a pure lineage free of hybridisation.[2]

Q: What is the penalty for hunting the Arabian wolf? A: A fine of 80,000 riyals, while the penalty for hunting endangered wild creatures in general reaches up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 10 million riyals, or one of these two penalties.[5]

Within the Kingdom's reserves, the Arabian wolf combines its role in the stability of the ecosystem with the protection of pure species and the reintroduction of those threatened with extinction into their natural habitats.[1][2]

Its topics on the platform are linked to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Harrat Al-Harrah Reserve, Northern Borders Region, Wildlife of Saudi Arabia and Arabian Leopard.