Aqaba, July 6 (Petra) -- Saleh Al-Nuaimi, Director of the Wadi Rum Protected Area and Directorate under the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), said Monday that preserving biodiversity is a core objective of the natural reserve.

Nuaimi told Petra in an interview that the wildlife sanctuary contains more than 24,000 rock inscriptions and 20,000 rock drawings dating back over 2,000 years, an archaeological evidence of human settlement in the area for over 12,000 years.

The rock inscriptions also show that Wadi Rum is a natural habitat for the Arabian oryx, he said, adding that a reintroduction project was launched in 2000 with 10 oryx brought from the Shaumari wildlife reserve, later reinforced in 2008 with additional animals provided by the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi to enhance genetic diversity and improve breeding sustainability.

Nuaimi said the Arabian oryx currently lives in a semi-natural release environment inside the reserve, with the herd exceeding 72 animals. He said reproduction rates vary depending on factors, including rainfall seasons, which affect vegetation growth, as well as the presence of predators, such as the Arabian wolf, which targets young oryx.

He said the reserve aims to develop an integrated eco-tourism project that would allow visitors to observe the Arabian oryx in its natural habitat, while maintaining environmental and wildlife protection standards.

Wadi Rum Reserve was established in 1999 over an area of 720 square kilometers and was inscribed in 2011 on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed natural and cultural site due to its historical and environmental value.

//Petra// NQ