THE STUDY AREA
OUR AIMS & OBJECTIVES.
The Arabian Leopard Project is a research initiative aiming to assess the population size and structure of the Arabian leopards in a subsection of the Negev Highlands (Israel) in order to facilitate conservation efforts for the species. This idea was first established in 2014 out of an understanding that if nothing will be done (and rather soon) the Arabian leopard population in Israel might go extinct.
Our study area spans over 400 square kilometers and is a subsection of the Negev Highlands (the central part of the Negev Desert) that lies in the south of Israel. The Negev Highlands region stretches between the Paran River in the south to the Zin River in the north. This area is a hyper-arid (< 80mm precipitation per year) mountainous desert that is characterized by high dissected plateaus surrounded by steep slopes and high cliffs. The plateaus ascend from 600-700m up to more than 1000m in the western parts of the area (Ramon Mountain is the highest point in the region and it rises to an elevation of 1037m). The area contains unique geologic elements (such as Makhtesh Ramon) and in general the views and scenery are nothing short of splendid.
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THE NEGEV
HIGHLANDS.
The Negev Highlands in Israel is a mountainous desert region that spans over an area of more than 2000 square kilometers (out of which, the Negev Highlands Nature Reserve is 1,045 square kilometers). The Negev Highlands is home to some of the world's most rare and elusive predators. Among these are the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) and the Striped hyena (hyaena hyaena).
Issues concerning the conservation of these species necessitate robust data on the abundance and structure of their populations. Despite of common misconceptions about deserts, the area is rich in fauna (including mega fauna). For example, other species that inhabit this region include the Nubian ibex, Rock hyrax, Caracal, Arabian wolf, Dorcas gazelle, and Blanford's fox.
