"Salman Sheikh" (67 years old) proudly boasts that he still upholds his family's inherited tradition of hunting Arabian oryx in Hadramaut Governorate, eastern Yemen. He inherited this tradition of hunting this animal from his father and grandfather.
"Sheikh" went on his first hunting expedition in search of Arabian oryx at the age of ten in the mid-1960s, accompanied by a group of youths from the city of Tarim in northern Hadramaut Governorate. Now, as he gets old, he still goes out for hunting every year.
He missed the annual hunting season once when he went for Hajj (pilgrimage), and he says, " "When I was next to the Kaaba, I prayed to Allah that my companions would have a bountiful hunting season, luckily, his companions successfully hunted Arabian oryx that was over thirty years old in that expedition.
After each successful hunting expedition, the local residents in Yemen celebrate that achievement. Some of them photograph those celebrations and share them on social media platforms to be watched by others in different regions.
We have noticed that local residents continuously share photos and videos on social media platforms, depicting hunting activities targeting endangered animals according to the classification of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
We have been monitoring hunting activities targeting three species of animals (Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, and gazelle), and we have observed what hunters share on social media platforms. The outcome was a significant amount of media content. We have sorted and verified the reliability of this content through a process of tracking, communication, and interviews with some individuals involved in these hunting activities.
The three animals are included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) on the Red List of Threatened Species. This listing was due to hunting, agricultural encroachment on its habitat, water source depletion caused by human activities, diseases, competition with domestic goats, and climate change. The Nubian ibex was classified under the criteria C1+2a(i) of the IUCN Red List.
The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus) was indeed early listed on the Red List issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008. It was classified under the criteria C2a(i). The listing was primarily due to the expansion of human activities encroaching upon the habitat of the Arabian leopard, as well as unsustainable hunting practices and ongoing modifications to the natural ecosystem.
In regards to the Arabian mountain gazelle, it was recently assessed and included in the Red List of Threatened Species issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in 2016. The Arabian mountain gazelle (Arabian oryx gazella) was listed as vulnerable under the criteria C2a(i), indicating its susceptibility to threats and the need for conservation measures.
The book "Endangered Species" published by the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen in 2006 included Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, and Arabian mountain gazelle among the endangered animals in the country. These species were recognized as needing continuous care and protection.
Despite the fact that the three species are classified as endangered animals, local hunters track and hunt them, often using live ammunition or setting traps to capture them.
The traps used by hunters can be nets set along the animal's path, which close upon its entry, or barriers that the animal is driven towards, where it is then killed with daggers or shot once it enters.
The most affected animal is the Arabian oryx.
After collecting the data, we analyzed it and found that there were 63 cases of Arabian oryx hunting during the monitoring period from 2020 to 2022 in the governorates of Shabwah and Hadramaut in eastern Yemen.
The hunting operations resulted in the killing of 24 male Arabian oryx. Hadramaut governorate had the highest number with 16 cases, followed by Shabwah governorate with 8 cases of male oryx killings. During that period, 38 female oryx were also killed, with 22 cases in Shabwah governorate and 16 cases in Hadramaut governorate. Two additional cases were captured.
A graph illustrating the geographic and temporal distribution of Arabian oryx hunting.
Dr. Omar Ba'ashen mentioned in a scientific study titled "The Status of Arabian Oryx in Yemen" as part of his master's thesis at the International University of Andalusia in Spain in 2010 that the Arabian oryx found in Yemen is the "Nubian oryx (Capra nubiana)", which is one of the smallest species of oryx.
He added that there is clear sexual dimorphism in the size and color of the coat, with black and white spots on the legs and a white belly. Males are about twice the size of females, and they can be easily distinguished by their larger size, longer horns, and darker coat. The animals give birth to one or two young oryx, which reach maturity after two to three years from birth, and their estimated lifespan is around 17 years.
Ba'ashen further added in his thesis that this species is found in Asia (Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and Africa (Ethiopia and Egypt).
The organization "Shabwa Youth" - a local organization working as part of its projects in monitoring the hunting of endangered animals in the Shabwa Governorate, including the Arabian oryx - has published statistics indicating the continuation of Arabian oryx hunting in Shabwa Governorate during the current year 2023. The statistics recorded the killing of (37) Arabian oryx in several directorates of the governorate during the period from January to April of the current year.
A chart illustrating the cases of Arabian oryx hunting in Shabwa Governorate during the year 2023, distributed across the directorates.
During the last third of the previous year, 2022, "Shabwa Youth Organization" published statistics on a number of oryx hunting cases they observed. They stated that the period from September to December witnessed 42 cases of gazelle hunting in seven out of the total 17 directorates of the governorate.
Ali Mohammed Al-Ba'asi, a member of the Shabwa Youth Organization, affirmed that local residents perceive oryx hunting as a cultural heritage and part of their local identity, based on misleading information. He mentioned that their ancestors used to engage in oryx hunting, but it was regulated and conducted in a fair manner, unlike the current unjust practices.
Al-Ba'asi further pointed out that according to ancient documents attributed to tribes in Shabwa Governorate, they used to prohibit the killing of female oryx and their young, hunting during the breeding season, and hunting near water sources. However, these hunting regulations are no longer being followed by anyone.
a video of Ali Al-Biasi talking about the scale of hunting operations in Shabwah Governorate.
According to the results of a survey conducted by the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen, in collaboration with funding from the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in 2005, to study the status of the Nubian Ibex and establish a protected area for it in Wadi Hadramout, the population of Nubian Ibex has critically declined in the surveyed area in recent years, and the situation is deteriorating.
Estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicate that the number of adults of the ibex species in Yemen is less than 2,500.
The gazelle is being slaughtered in Shabwah.
The mountain gazelle (Gezalla) is not safe from being killed or captured in Yemen, and during our investigation, we documented (14) cases of hunting targeting the gazelle in Shabwah Governorate, during the period from 2020 to 2022.
The hunting cases of gazelles in Shabwah were distributed as follows: 8 cases of killing and 6 cases of capturing them alive.
A graph illustrating the cases of hunting the gazelle in Shabwa Governorate during the period of 2020-2022.
During 2022, Shabwa Youth Organization reported that (4) female gazelles were killed in Shabwa Governorate.
"Omar Ba'ashen," the Director of Biodiversity Management at the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen, clarified in an exclusive statement to the investigator, saying, "As for gazelles, they have suffered the greatest share of hunting, and many of them have completely disappeared from Yemen. As per the recent data, only the mountain gazelle remains in Shabwa, Hadramout, and Abyan."
The Arabian leopard is the most endangered species.
Similar to the gazelle, the Arabian leopard is constantly being killed by local residents in the southern governorates of Yemen.
During the investigation, we recorded (3) cases of Arabian leopard killings carried out by some hunters in the Abyan Governorate.
The estimated population of the Arabian leopard is less than 250 distributed across nine countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
"Omar Ba'ashen," the Director of Biodiversity Management at the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen, explains that the declining population of the Arabian leopard is a result of hunting and indiscriminate killing, despite its natural presence in Yemen. He attributes this to lax enforcement of laws due to the prevailing situation in the country caused by the war.
"Ba'ashen" affirms that despite the challenges, the mountains of Dhalae, as well as Abyan, Al-Bayda, Al-Mahra, and Shabwah, still serve as primary habitats for the Arabian leopard. Its presence has also been recorded in several regions of the country over the past decades.
The website of the "Foundation for the protection of the Arabian leopard in Yemen" states that Arabian leopards are solitary animals that rarely interact with each other. Male and female leopards come together for a brief period during the breeding season when they mate repeatedly over a period of five days, with females reaching their peak fertility during this time. After mating, they go their separate ways. After approximately 100 days of gestation, the female gives birth to one to four cubs.
In addition to what mentioned above, Arabian leopards are the largest and most powerful predators in the Arabian Peninsula. They are smaller than leopards living in other parts of Asia and Africa. Female Arabian leopards can weigh up to 24 kg, while the average weight of males is around 10 kg more than females. The length of these animals ranges from approximately 1.6 meters for a small female to 2.1 meters for large males. They differ from other leopards in being paler and slender, and they have golden-brown eyes. Their bodies are covered in spots that help them camouflage in their surroundings.
Abdul Salam Al-Ja'abi, the Deputy Director of the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen, explains that the authority can only raise awareness among hunters about the importance of protecting these animals. However, these efforts have not been sufficient. Therefore, they have reviewed the environmental legislations in the country to identify the shortcomings and address them.
Weak performance of relevant authorities.
In 1990, Yemen established the Environmental Protection Council, and after five years of its establishment, Law No. 26 for Environmental Protection was issued.
In 1997, Law No. 4 was issued, approving Yemen's accession to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This was followed by the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 101, which established the General Authority for Environmental Protection.
In 2002, the Yemeni Cabinet issued Resolution No. 104, approving the regulations for the protection of endangered species of wild animals and plants and the regulation of their trade.
Despite that, hunting activities targeting endangered animals, specifically Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, and mountain gazelle, continue. The protective efforts carried out by official authorities in Yemen appear to be extremely weak, as they have been unable to stop or prevent these activities.
"Omar Ba'ashen," the Director of Biodiversity Department at the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen, explains that the authority cannot work alone in combating wildlife crimes. Therefore, they often seek the assistance of security agencies and local authorities in apprehending violators and offenders.
" Ba'ashen" acknowledges the difficulties they face in apprehending violators, stating, "Many times, we arrive at the crime scene only to find that the violators have disappeared. Additionally, the prevailing poverty in society makes it easy to provide facilitations for smuggling the captured animals. We have been working on communication with all checkpoints to prevent smuggling. Moreover, there is a focus on holding intensive meetings with local authorities and communities in those areas."
Under Article 85, Paragraph (b) of the same law related to environmental monitoring, the General Authority for Environmental Protection and its branches in Yemeni provinces are responsible for monitoring environmental damages. They are also tasked with regulating environmental crimes and violations according to Articles 75 and 76 of the same law.
The absence of law exacerbates the problem.
Article (12) of Chapter One, Section Two of the Yemeni Environmental Protection Law No. (26) stipulates that animals and birds living in Yemeni territories are legally protected. However, the law itself does not prohibit hunting of wild animals except in areas where a decision has been issued to designate them as natural reserves.
Therefore, the Yemeni Environmental Protection Law No. (26) does not specifically mention endangered animals in a legal provision, except for Article (28), which distributes the responsibility of ensuring the safety of endangered animals within the context of environmental safety in general among all ministries and state institutions in cooperation with the Council of Environmental Protection, which later transformed into an independent authority.
As for the Minister of Water and Environment's Decision No. (174) of 2014 regarding the implementation of the provisions of the Prime Minister's Decision No. (104) of 2002 concerning the approval of the list of endangered species of wild animals and plants and the regulation of their trade, it focused on regulating the trade of endangered animals and did not address the hunting and killing activities carried out by local populations in Yemen.
Dr. Mohammed Jamil, Professor of Environmental Legislation at Aden University, states that Yemen's interest in environmental issues and their protection is relatively recent. Although the establishment of the Environmental Protection Council in 1990 marked a significant development, Yemen has not yet enacted a specific law for the protection of endangered animals, despite its adherence to several international environmental legislations, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as ratified by Presidential Decree No. (4) of 1997.
He further explained that the only existing provision in Yemeni criminal law related to animal protection in general is Article 320, which states: "Anyone who intentionally kills an animal or livestock belonging to others or causes significant harm to them shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or a fine." Therefore, there is no specific legal provision that criminalizes the hunting of endangered animals or imposes penalties on those who engage in such activities.
"Jameel" attributes this to the fact that the widespread hunting of endangered animals did not occur in the period when the Yemeni legislature enacted the Environmental Protection Law, but rather it has recently spread during the war that Yemen has been experiencing since 2014.
This reflects a gap between Yemen's ratification of international agreements and its local laws.
A Recording of Dr. Mohammed Jameel, Professor of Environmental Legislation at the University of Aden.
Based on a study carried out by the researcher "Badriya Al-Awadi", there are two categories of challenges that impede environmental conservation efforts in many Arab countries, including Yemen. These challenges encompass legal barriers as well as administrative hurdles.
She further adds that even if these countries have their own environmental laws, they still lack specialized environmental courts and judges, as well as competent personnel and technicians. Additionally, there is often an overlap of jurisdictions between environmental councils, bodies, or authorities in those countries.
During hunting seasons, local authorities and branches of the environmental agency in the governorates issue frequent decisions and directives to prohibit the hunting of these animals in order to deter those who engage in hunting. However, these directives are not followed by effective enforcement measures in reality to regulate and apprehend violators.
Inadequate measures that fail to stop the bleeding
In the governorate of Shabwah, several directives have been issued at different times to prohibit the hunting of endangered animals. On April 7, 2020, the former governor of Shabwah, Mohammed Saleh bin Adyo, issued a directive to the local police director in the governorate in an official memorandum to "ban the hunting of rare animals in the directorates of Shabwah." This directive was also followed by the subsequent governor, Awad bin Alwazir Al-Awlaqi.
On December 16th of the same year, the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Shabwah governorate issued a circular prohibiting the hunting of animals from rare species in all areas and directorates of the province in coordination with the local authorities and security agencies.
Copies of directives and orders.
The same situation is repeated in multiple Yemeni governorates. On November 17th of last year, 2022, the branch of the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Wadi and Desert of Hadhramaut issued a statement calling for the designation of the Hadhramaut Plateau as a natural reserve for the Arabian Oryx, due to the increasing hunting activities targeting this endangered animal.
Copy of the statement
The General Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen has faced the consequences of the current situation. Deputy Director of the authority, Abdul Salam Al-Ja'bi, considers this outcome to be unsurprising, as the leadership of the authority has observed that environmental protection is not a top priority for decision-makers in Yemen, unlike in other countries worldwide. Additionally, the impact of war, urban expansion, and illicit trafficking has put biodiversity in the country at risk.
In the context of ongoing institutional weakness in Yemen, the absence of a specific law for protecting endangered animals, and the lack of public awareness about the importance of preserving these animals, hunting activities conducted by local populations in Yemen will continue and cause significant harm to endangered species. There is a possibility that the Arabian leopard and the Arabian oryx, in particular, could become extinct in the coming years.
"This investigative report was conducted as part of the outcomes of the Advanced Investigative Journalism Workshop, under the supervision of colleagues Ahmed Al-Wasai and Mohamed Yahya Jahlan."
