In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in wildlife and its preservation in the Kingdom.
This interest aligns with the goals of Vision 2030, which emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment and maintaining a balanced ecosystem for a better quality of life and overall stability.
The spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia), a desert reptile, was once threatened with extinction due to overhunting and drought. However, thanks to the efforts of royal nature reserves, the lizard has started to reproduce in recent years.
One notable reserve, the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, covering an area of 91,500 square kilometres, has played a significant role in successfully reproducing these lizards.
The reserve focuses on protecting rare and endangered species, restoring natural habitats, rehabilitating ecosystems, and ensuring human activities do not disrupt the natural balance.
These efforts aim to restore ecological equilibrium in the region while showcasing its unique biodiversity.
The spiny-tailed lizard holds cultural significance and is featured in heritage books, stories, and folk proverbs. It is a daytime desert creature, growing up to 85 cm in length, and is known for its ability to withstand heat and thirst, adapting to harsh conditions.
The lizard primarily feeds on annual plants and shrubs and rarely drinks water. It derives hydration from the moisture within plant elements. Interestingly, it preserves the plants by taking only small bites, thus promoting vegetation growth.
The spiny-tailed lizard lives in open, flat areas with hard soil. It digs winding burrows that can be as shallow as two metres or as deep as one and a half metres below the ground.
The lizard uses its strong claws to dig these burrows. The entrances of the burrows usually face east or northeast so that the lizard can enjoy the morning sun and warm itself up.
