Wadi Rum Desert Wildlife
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Animals and birds that visit our camp
Camels often walk through our camp deep in the Wadi Rum desert
Camel (Dromedarian) Camelus dromodarius There are small herds of female camels that live in the desert and occasionally wander through our camp. Male camels usually live in the village with their owners and provide camel rides for visitors to Wadi Rum. The female camels usually roam in the desert with their young. They are not wild and their owners know the general area where they are and drive by jeep to bring food to their camels. Some of the camels are hobbled so they do not roam too far away. Every three or four days they will go to Lawrence Spring to drink from the water troughs there. 
Rueppell's fox looking for water at night
Rueppelli fox
Vulpes rueppelli The Rueppell's fox is a shy and quiet animal that rests during the day and is active at night. This fox is visiting our camp for a drink of water. Its big ears help dissipate its body heat in the hot desert. Its tracks can be seen every morning in the sand outside your tent.
Sinai Rosefinch
Carpodacus synoicus This pretty little bird is Jordan's national bird. The male has pink head and breast, and the female and young are light brown. They nest in rock crevices in the mountains beside our camp. 
Lizards love to be in the hot sun on the rocks in the Wadi Rum desert
Starred Agama Laudakia stellio Lizards are frequently seen in the desert where they bask on the rocks in the hot sun. They keep a distance away from humans. They are very territorial. This lizard lives near the camp and on the day of this photo he had come down from the rocks on high to defend the camp area from another lizard that wanted to move in. 
A herd of goats visit our desert camp
Domestic goat
Capra aegagrus hircus Not strictly wildlife this herd of about fifty domestic goats came into the camp area one day to eat the vegetation before being quickly shepherded away again. The owner was probably resting nearby and his goats had wandered away. Families in Wadi Rum village usually have a small herd of about 10 to 20 goats at their homes. This larger herd was most likely owned by a Bedouin family living out in the desert. They take their goats out from their tent site each day to graze on the many desert plants. 
Two Tristram's starlings at the water bowl at our Wadi Rum camp
Tristram's starling
Onychognathus tristramii These two starlings are always together and are frequent visitors to the water we provide in the shade of the mountain rocks near our big tent. They have a chirpy song that sounds like an attempt at a wolf whistle. When they fly their golden underwing shines in the sunlight.
Desert Hedgehog
Paraechinus aethiopicus Another regular visitor to our camp is this desert hedgehog. It does a nightly circuit and its tracks are there for you to see in the morning. They feed on insects. 
Sand cat in Wadi Rum desert
Sand Cat
Felis margarita Bigger than the domestic cat this cat has a broad face and is sandy in colour. It is nocturnal. In Jordan it lives only in the Wadi Rum desert and is an endangered species. This cat is behind the pipes leading from a water tank at our camp. We hope it visits again soon so we can get a better photograph. |
