Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve | |
Map: | Oman#Middle East#Asia |
Relief: | 1 |
Location: | Dhofar Governorate, South Arabia |
Nearest City: | Salalah |
Coordinates: | 17.516°N 54.94°W |
Area: | 4500km2 |
Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve[1] (ar|محمية جبل سمحان) is a nature reserve in the area of Jabal Samḥān (ar|جَبَل سَمْحَان, "Mount Samhan") in Dhofar, Oman. It has an area of 4500km2 and has no permanent population.[2] Being in the region of the Dhofar Mountains, it is one of the last refuges for wild Arabian leopards.[3]
Data suggests that around twenty Arabian leopards are left in the reserve.[4]
The most important leopard prey species are Arabian gazelle, Nubian ibex, Cape hare, rock hyrax, Indian crested porcupine, desert hedgehog and several bird species. Occasionally leopards might prey on domestic livestock. Other predators, which are found in the reserve, include caracal, striped hyena and Arabian wolf.