Joanna James
A tiny country that boasts of much diversity in terms of topological features and fauna is located in the Middle Eastern desert region of the world. It is a well-loved tourist attraction and is never short of visitors. Here are some of the animals you must keep an eye out for on your tours.
Though you never really paid much attention before, you would be guided to understand that giraffes have very unique spots and no two are alike. This isn't all that you will discover while you reside at an Oman resort, you also learn that there are about nine different types of giraffes in existence. You will see them tower over all the other animals and reach out to the branches at the tips of trees and nibble the tops of shoots that have sprouted upwards. The species of giraffes seen here are those found in North Eastern Africa as they are more resilient to the desert climate.
Light in weight and light-skinned; gazelles are hoofed animals that have adapted to the local conditions and manage with very little water intake. Much of the water that is within their body is extracted from the food they eat, and the occasional dew drops that they lick. Gazelles are admired for their beautiful shapes and delicate appearance. Their distant but equally quiet cousin, the deer are also found here. There are a few different species of deer including those found in Sri Lanka and those found in Europe.
If you stay at the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, you can wake up to a new type of honking; the honking of grey-crowned cranes who hail from Africa. It is their long slender necks that are grey while their crown is an earthy brown. Flamingos, rheas and emus who are usually seen in the States and Australia have also made themselves quite content within the enclaves of this island. They have figured out new ways of continuing their livelihood in warm conditions and move towards the mangroves for their water requirements. And so, they continue to evolve and live through man-made changes to the surroundings.
The African Gemsbok has a striking face with a sharp combination of black and sandy coloured skin. It is almost as if it has been adorned with a natural attire to set it apart from the other oryxes. The Arabian Oryx and the Beisa Oryx also dwell in the forest and the most apparent feature among them all is their spear-shaped set of horns that stand well over a foot above their heads. Seeing such animals in their natural habitat is truly a sight you will remember for life and therefore, must not be missed if you ever do visit Oman and have the time to take a look at them.
The hare endemic to the United Arab Emirates, known as the 'Arabian Hare' is a complete desert creature with the ability to retain its body's water levels from the bits of grass and shrubs that it devours. They are cute but not as small as a typical rabbit and at the same time, they are not as large as European hares. The Ethiopian Hedgehog who has a peculiar lifestyle throughout the year is seen after dusk usually, but if you visit between December and February it would be in hibernation. Thus, planning your trip to Oman at the right season can ensure you can spot most of these magical desert beings that would otherwise be a rare sighting in your daily life back home.
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