Wildlife Found in Qatar

Join us and explore Qatar's lesser-known wilderness, where natural wonders coexist in enthralling harmony with the desolate beauty of the desert.

Arabian Oryx

Name: Arabian oryx
Scientific Name: Oryx leucoryx

The Arabian oryx, also known as the white oryx, is a medium-sized species of antelope native to the Arabian Peninsula. After going extinct in the wild at the beginning of the 1970s, it has been reintroduced since 1980 and there are now up to 7,000 individuals. This oryx is the national animal of Qatar, as well as that of several neighboring countries. 

Arabian Falcon 

Name: Falcon 
Scientific Name: Falco/Falconidae

Different species of Falcon are found in Qatar such as Amur falcon, Lanner falcon, Barbary falcon, Saker falcon, Sooty falcon, and more. They are fierce diurnal birds of the avian world and hunt efficiently during daylight hours. With almost 8 times better vision than the sharpest of human eyesight, falcons silently swoop down as soon as they’ve spotted their prey. The qualities of this wild bird launched the tradition of hunting fresh meat to augment the nutrition of desert nomads, over 5000 years ago in Iran and were spread across the Middle Eastern countries over centuries. 

Camel

Name: Camel
Scientific Name: Camelus dromedarius

Qatar has the highest density of camels in all of the Middle East. Camels are a group, and the animal you will see in Qatar is the dromedary, or one-humped camel, which makes up for 94 percent of the world’s camel population, the rest being mainly made of Bactrian Camels, with two humps. The camel has long been used as a means of transportation in the desert and is still used in remote areas or for tourism. It has been widely domesticated and is one of the most iconic Arabian animals.

Golden Jackal

Name: Golden Jackal
Scientific Name: Canis aureus

The golden jackal is a species of wolf-like canid native to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. Its range has been growing increasingly over the past decades, primarily because of the decline of its main competitor, the gray wolf. This jackal is omnivorous and can tolerate dry conditions. It lives in the valleys of Qatar, usually near bodies of water, and can withstand temperatures as low as -35 °C / -31 °F!

Desert Long-Eared Bat

Name: Desert long-eared bat
Scientific Name: Otonycteris hemprichii

The desert long-eared bat is one of two species of bats that can be found in Qatar, alongside the trident bat. It is a species of vesper bat and is native to North Africa and the Middle East. This bat is most likely carnivorous and feeds on invertebrates such as orthopterans and arachnids, as well as scorpions.

Sand Cat

Name: Sand cat
Scientific Name: Felis margarita

The sand cat, also known as the dune cat, is a small species of wild cat native to the deserts and stony areas of Africa, the Middle East, western Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is known by the Tuareg people for its ability to kill venomous snakes. The reason for its ears to be so short and set low, on the side of the head, is for the sand cat to detect potential prey underground: when it comes to feeding, it largely preys on small rodents, but also lizards, fish, and snakes

Desert Horned Viper

Name: Desert horned viper
Scientific Name: Cerastes cerastes

Although pretty rare in Qatar, the desert horned viper, also known as the Saharan horned viper, has already been discovered in the country. It is native to northern Africa, but also parts of the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula. This viper inhabits dry, sandy areas, at elevations of up to 1,500 m / 4,900 ft above sea level. Usually, it tends to stay in areas with a temperature below 20 °C / 68 °F.

Dugong

Name: Dugong
Scientific Name:Dugong dugon

The dugong is Qatar’s largest mammal. It is a marine animal that can be spotted north of the country’s shores, and Qatar has one of the largest concentrations of dugongs in the world!
This large mammal is closely related to manatees. It lives near the shore of about 40 countries in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and has been hunted for thousands of years for both its oil and meat.

Humpback Whale

Name: Humpback whale
Scientific Name: Megaptera novaeangliae

If you are lucky enough, you might see a humpback whale breaching the surface, off the coast of Qatar. This spectacular animal is particularly loved by whale watchers due to its unique behavior and fantastic figures. The humpback whale inhabits all seas and oceans around the world, and migrates up to 16,000 km / 9,900 mi per year! It uses bubbles to catch its prey and feeds on krill and small fish.

Whale Sharks 

Name: Whale Sharks 
Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus

Qatar is home to one of the largest congregations of Whale Sharks on the planet. Until recently, the area that hosts these magnificent sea giants was closed off to the public - so there are still very few people who have witnessed this natural phenomenon. Each year, there are hundreds of Whale Sharks that congregate in the waters off the northeast coast of Qatar from April to September. While Whale Sharks are the biggest fish in the ocean, they are also one of the most gentle and majestic creatures you will find underwater.

Common Dolphin

Name: Common dolphin
Scientific Name: Delphinus delphis

The common dolphin is the most abundant species of cetacean in the world, with about 6 million individuals. It inhabits warm-temperate and tropical waters of the world and lives in coastal, shallow waters, which is why it is not that difficult to spot. It is known for its use of whistles to communicate with others, and gathers in large aggregations of hundreds or even thousands of members!

Green Sea Turtle

Name: Green sea turtle
Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas

The green sea turtle, also known as the green turtle, the black turtle, or the Pacific green turtle, is a species of aquatic turtle native to tropical and subtropical seas of the world. Although primarily aquatic, it can sometimes be found on the coasts or islands of Qatar, where it comes to nest. This sea turtle is seriously endangered: although it is illegal to collect, harm, or kill one, it suffers a lot from poaching and hunting for food, but also from pollution, fishing accidents, and habitat loss.