Rescued back from extinction in the wild: past, present and future of the genetics of the Arabian oryx in Oman. 

 Postmortem Findings in Captive Sand Gazelle and Arabian Oryx at Al-Wusta Wildlife Reserve, Oman

The study followed the guidelines of research permit approved by The Animal Welfare Committee of the Animal Health Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Oman (358/2014).
The WWR is enclosed by two meters high chain-link perimeter fence. It covers 2,824 km2 tract of open, sparselyvegetated limestone desert including part of the Al-Huqf escarpment to the east. Today, the field headquarters of WWR has four captive enclosures (Maha1, Maha2, Maha3 and Maha4) for the Arabian oryx (718 individuals) and two captive enclosures (Reem1 and Reem2) for sand gazelles (1150 individuals). The enclosure (each 1km2, is connected with corridors through where an animal can be moved and rotated in any of the enclosures) has well-established tree covering such as ghaf (Prosopis cineraria), samr (Acacia tortilis) and salm (Acacia ehrenberginia). The holding pens are provided with additional man-made shading. The gazelles are fed with a mixture of different pelleted feeds. In addition, they receive fresh lucerne (Medicago sativa) and grass hay (Medicago sativa) ad libitum. A mineral lick (calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium) is available in every enclosure. For drinking, subterranean water drawn by a pump is supplied ad libitum. Reserve has a team of veterinarians, biologists, researchers and other non-technical support staff. Identification and treatment of sick animals are the routine

  A sand gazelle project launched in Al Wusta wildlife reserve, Oman,

INTRODUCTION Historically the Arabian sand gazelle Gazella subgutturosa marica, ranged the open sand habitats of the Arabian Peninsula through Iraq, Jordan, Syria and into southern Turkey (Mallon & Kingswood 2001 in Wacher et al. 2010). In Oman the species inhabited the open sands of the Empty Quarter Desert, Eastern Sands/Wahiba Sands and marginally the gravel desert of central Oman. A survey by the Saudi Wildlife Commission in 1990 reported that sand gazelles were found in the border area of Ghanim in the Omani side, with sizeable herds ranging across 30 kms of the border. In 2000 when Massolo et al.(2008) carried out a two days survey (line transect by car) in the central sand desert of Oman, only 44 gazelles were sighted and 34 were tracked, totaling 78 gazelles (estimated density 1.26 ind./sqkm).

Spatio-temporal pattern of sylvatic rabies in the Sultanate of Oman, 2006–2010, Spatio-temporal pattern of sylvatic rabies in the Sultanate of Oman, 2006–2010

Sero-survey of equine infectious anemia in the Sultanate of Oman during 2007-2009

The equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a potentially fatal and relapsing blood borne ailment of family Equidae (Higgins and Wright, 1998; Radostits et al., 2007). It is caused by EIA virus of subfamily Lentiviridae of Retroviridae family which is a close relative of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)(Montaginer et al., 1984; Nakajima and Sugiura, 1994). EIA in equines may present itself in three clinical entities viz., acute, chronic and inapparent infection. Acute form is usually fatal and affected animal may dies within 2-3 weeks. In recovered animals, EIA virus persists for rest of the life and affected equine may suffer from chronic relapsing disease (swamper) or become an in-apparent carrier (Clabough et al., 1991). The in-apparent carriers are major cause of spread and maintenance of EIA and are usually detected by the serological testing through ELISA and AGID (Issel et al., 1990). In nature the spread of virus is most likely via interrupted feeding of blood sucking horse flies. However, accidental transmission through transfer of blood from an infected horse and use of contaminated needles may spread the disease to healthy equines (Cordes and Issel, 1996). To date, no effective treatment or vaccine is available concerning EIA and stringent implementation of ‘test and destroy’policy is the most recommended control method (OIE, 2004). The serological diagnosis of EIA remained a challenge until AGID test was developed by Coggins and co workers (1972). Although, positive AGID test results are reliable and verifies the presence of EIA, it has its own limitations. It has been reported that horses acquiring the EIA for the first time and in early stage of

  Malignant lymphoma in calves of local Omani cattle in an organized dairy farm, Malignant lymphoma in calves of local Omani cattle in an organized dairy farm

  Detection of rabies virus in brain tissue by one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology.

Health Assessment of Arabian Oryx at AL Wusta Wildlife Reserve as revealed by Weight, Skin Lesion, Blood Parasites and External Parasites.

Dr. Qais Al Rawahi, Veterinary Medicine PhD, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra, Oman 

Dr. Jaime Gongora, The University of Sydney, School of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Population genetics and health assessment of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) at the Al-Wusta Wildlife Reserve in Oman.