An Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) was spotted in the mountains of the Eastern Region for the first time in the UAE in 2017. Courtesy EWS-WWF.
An Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) was spotted in the mountains of the Eastern Region for the first time in the UAE in 2017. Courtesy EWS-WWF.
An Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) was spotted in the mountains of the Eastern Region for the first time in the UAE in 2017. Courtesy EWS-WWF.
An Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) was spotted in the mountains of the Eastern Region for the first time in the UAE in 2017. Courtesy EWS-WWF.

New owl species for the UAE found in the Eastern Region


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Who’s there? A new owl species for the UAE.

For the first time in recorded history, the Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) has been seen in the country, spotted in the Hajar mountains in the Eastern Region.

The elusive owl was found by Anthony Stoquert during an owl survey, organised by the Emirates Wildlife Society in cooperation with World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF) after a surprise 2015 sighting of the Omani owl (Strix omanensis) in Wadi Wurayah National Park.

Stoquert was supported by Sami Majeed, a Wadi Wurayah National Park ranger from the Fujairah municipality.

“This recent finding has been quite exciting for the EWS team, as it is undoubtedly just one of many undiscovered species that call the UAE home,” said Jacky Judas, the manager and scientific advisor of Terrestrial Biodiversity at the EWS-WWF, in a statement. “In spite of a hot and arid climate, a wide variety of resilient and fascinating species thrive in our deserts and mountain areas —not only species resident in the Arabian Peninsula, but also wintering or migrant species on their way between Asia and Africa.”

The sighting reinforces the importance of further research on the country’s biodiversity, said a statement issued by the EWS-WWF.

“Unfortunately, the rapid pace of development has become a major threat to many of these creatures,” said Mr Judas. “Thus, it is crucial, now more than ever, that we ramp up collective efforts to protect and safeguard key habitats and endangered species, all of which constitute the UAE’s rich natural heritage.”

The owl survey is funded by the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and part of a broader survey of species distribution and abundance in the Hajar mountains. It is hoped the data collected will be used to create protected areas with high biodiversity or rare, threatened or endemic species.

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The Arabian Eagle Owl is also found in Yemen, in Oman's southern Dhofar region and the Asir mountains of south-west Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea. It lives in open woodland and on rocky outcrops with thorny shrubs. Its subspecies, the Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus) eats large insects, small mammals, birds and reptiles. The dining habits and the behaviour of the Arabian Eagle Owl remain a mystery.

The Arabian Eagle Owl can grow to 45 cm tall and weight up to 800 grams.

If such a large animal can go unnoticed for so long, asked Mr Jacky, what else is hiding in plain sight?

“What about much smaller species of animals and plants, or under-surveyed taxonomic groups?” he said. “We have very little doubt that so much more is still to be found in the Hajar Mountains.”

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Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

Four-day collections of TOH

Day             Indian Rs (Dh)        

Thursday    500.75 million (25.23m)

Friday         280.25m (14.12m)

Saturday     220.75m (11.21m)

Sunday       170.25m (8.58m)

Total            1.19bn (59.15m)

(Figures in millions, approximate)

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Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.

“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.

His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.

He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.

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Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.