Arabia's Hidden Valley: A Unique Habitat in Dhofar Captures Arabia's Past

A secluded valley on the southern coast of Dhofar in Oman is a unique microcosm of a distant era in Arabia’s past. It is the last vestige in Oman of the subtropical deciduous forests that flourished in parts of Arabia anciently. Fed by monsoonal run-off from the Qamar mountains that have isolated it, Khor Kharfot protects an extensive range of fauna and flora. Some extant species, such as the Arabian Leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), are critically-endangered. However, other species are known of only anecdotally as no thorough survey in any field has yet been made. The opportunity to do so, and to perhaps implement protective strategies, is fast vanishing as this once pristine site is now under severe environmental stress.