Despite the hot, dry conditions found throughout most of Arabia there is still an impressive number of mammal species which have adapted to these conditions, many of which are endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the regions close proximity to north east Africa and Asia it is not surprising that most of the species found here are closely related to those found in the other two regions.

Unfortunately several of these species are now threatened with extinction. In most areas the available habitat and limited resources are unable to support large numbers of antelope and other herbivores, which in turn can only support small populations of predators. This, coupled with increased competition and habitat loss as people have moved into previously inaccessible areas and inevitable hunting pressures imposed on the large mammals has resulted in the dramatic decrease of many species during the past few decades.

Fortunately, in many cases the threats have been identified early and preventative measures put in place. Several reserves have been proclaimed for specific mammal species within the region and captive breeding programs have been established to ensure their continued survival.

Reproduction in many of the larger mammals can be quite slow due to either; long gestation periods, as in the ungulates, or the intensive and prolonged parental care shown in many carnivores. Increased threats can therefore have a major impact on the recovery of certain species. It is apparent then that captive breeding programs are an essential part of the conservation effort not only to ensure that the species survives but also to allow us to learn more about their behaviour, social structure and survival requirements. It is important to know all we can about a species and its natural habitat if we are to reintroduce or release captive born offspring back into the wild and manage those populations successfully.