Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve

{{Short description|Nature reserve in the area of Jabal Samḥān in Dhofar, Oman}}{{Infobox protected area | name = Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve | alt_name = | iucn_category = | image = Dhofar,_Jabal_Samhan,_grotta_di_taiq,_cratere_01.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_size = | map = Oman#Middle East#Asia | map_alt = | map_caption = Map of Oman | map_width = | relief = 1 | location = Dhofar Governorate, South Arabia | nearest_city = Salalah | coordinates = {{coords|17.516|54.94|region:OM-ZU|notes=<ref name="ProtectedPlanet, JSNR"/>|display=inline,title}} | area = {{convert|4500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} | established = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = | url = }}

'''Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve'''<ref name="ProtectedPlanet, JSNR">{{Cite web |url=http://protectedplanet.net/sites/Jebel_Samhan_Nature_Reserve |title=Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve |work=protectedplanet.net |access-date=2013-03-11 |archive-date=2013-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329144828/http://protectedplanet.net/sites/Jebel_Samhan_Nature_Reserve |url-status=dead }}</ref> ({{langx|ar|محمية جبل سمحان}}) is a nature reserve in the area of ''Jabal Samḥān'' ({{langx|ar|جَبَل سَمْحَان}}, "Mount Samhan") in Dhofar, Oman. It has an area of {{convert|4500|km2|sqmi}} and has no permanent population.<ref name=MoI>{{cite web |title=Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve |url=http://www.omanet.om/english/tourism/wildlife/nature.asp?cat=tour&subcat=wild |publisher=Ministry of Information (Oman) |access-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310183045/http://www.omanet.om/english/tourism/wildlife/nature.asp?cat=tour&subcat=wild |archivedate=10 March 2012 }}</ref> Being in the region of the Dhofar Mountains, it is one of the last refuges for wild Arabian leopards.<ref name=SAW>{{cite journal |last=McKibbin |first=Anna |title=The Last Lair of the Leopard |journal=Saudi Aramco World |pages=24–31 |url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200902/the.last.lair.of.the.leopard.htm |date=March–April 2009 |access-date=20 June 2012 |archive-date=1 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801063416/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200902/the.last.lair.of.the.leopard.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Spalton_al2006">{{citation |author1=Spalton, J. A. |author2=Hikmani, H. A. |author3=Willis, D. |author4=Said, A. B. |title=Critically Endangered Arabian leopards Panthera pardus nimr persist in the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve Oman |journal=Oryx |publisher=ORYX-LONDON |volume=40 |issue=3 |page=287 |year=2006 |doi=10.1017/S0030605306000743|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Data suggests that around twenty Arabian leopards are left in the reserve.<ref>{{Cite web|last=@NatGeoUK|date=2018-10-03|title=Dhofar: Where leopards roam|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2018/10/dhofar-where-leopards-roam|access-date=2021-03-29|website=National Geographic|language=en-gb}}</ref>

== Fauna == 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.<ref name="Spalton_al2006"/>

== See also == * Wildlife of Oman

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Leopard-pair-camera-trapped-in-Jabal-Samhan-Nature-Reserve-Photo-A-Spalton_fig9_277011088 Leopard in Jabal Samhan]

Category:Protected areas of Oman