This study is the first to provide data on the extent of illegal hunting practices in Jordan using posts on social media. During January 2015–January 2016 photographs from seven hunter groups on Facebook recorded the killing of 4,707 native animals of 59 species, of which birds constituted the majority, followed by mammals and reptiles. Flouting of Jordanian laws was widespread, with daily bag limits exceeded on many occasions, and in the case of chukar partridgeAlectoris chukar, the most popular quarry, some hunters exceeded the limit by 3,000%. Of even greater concern, a total of 34 species with special protection under Jordanian law were killed, and the hunting of large mammals, especially ibexCapra nubianaand gazelles (Gazellaspp.), with already depleted populations, was particularly excessive. It also appeared that a significant number of gazelles were shot by unlicensed hunters from Arabian Gulf countries. Overall, the survey indicates an alarming picture of overhunting of threatened species and ineffective enforcement of hunting laws, despite the efforts of key government and voluntary agencies. We recommend urgent action to address the causes of the problem and to improve the management of hunting through better collaboration, mobilization of resources and awareness raising.

Aichi Target 11 committed governments to protect ≥17% of their terrestrial environments by 2020, yet it was rarely achieved, raising questions about the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework goal to protect 30% by 2030. Asia is a challenging continent for such targets, combining high biodiversity with dense human populations. Here, we evaluated achievements in Asia against Aichi Target 11. We found that Asia was the most underperforming continent globally, with just 13.2% of terrestrial protected area (PA) coverage, averaging 14.1 ± SE 1.8% per country in 2020. 73.1% of terrestrial ecoregions had <17% representation and only 7% of PAs even had an assessment of management effectiveness. We found that a higher agricultural land in 2015 was associated with lower PA coverage today. Asian countries also showed a remarkably slow average annual pace of 0.4 ± SE 0.1% increase of PA extent. These combined lines of evidence suggest that the ambitious 2030 targets are unlikely to be achieved in Asia unless the PA coverage to increase 2.4-5.9 times faster. We provided three recommendations to support Asian countries to meet their post-2020 biodiversity targets: complete reporting and the wider adoption “other effective area-based conservation measures”; restoring disturbed landscapes; and bolstering transboundary PAs.

Between February and September 2014, we performed a survey of 23 animal markets in Beirut. Trade in wild animals including reptiles, birds and mammals comprise a large volume (25704 specimens). The estimated value of wildlife trade in Lebanon in the visited shops and during the study period is 431371 US$, out of which 97 % is for birds. This number indicates the economical importance of wildlife trade in Lebanon. Due to the high demand by the public, birds constituted the majority of the traded species which consisted mostly of cage-bred or imported species. Lebanon’s biodiversity is not threatened by the trade of wild species, except for some species like the Spur-thighed tortoise. However, the risk of transmission of diseases due to trade in wildlife is evident. The prices of traded animals varied according to their conservational status, their origins (local, captive-bred, imported or smuggled), supply and demand, and specific features of species. Highest prices were observed when all factors are combined (i.e. case of the Macaw parrot). Most (64%) traded species are not listed under any appendix of CITES, only 16 species are listed under Appendix-II and one species is listed under Appendix-III. Regarding IUCN status of traded species, five species are considered vulnerable, one is endangered, one is near threatened and the rest are considered as least concern. Furthermore, most (70%) of the shops visited were in poor conditions, while shops in excellent conditions are exclusively the licensed shops. Hence, law enforcement and regulation of wildlife trade will have a positive impact on not only shop conditions, but also on animals well being, reduced degree of mortality in trade, reduced smuggling, and consequently a better conservation of wildlife in Lebanon.

Twelve species of ungulates are reported from the wild in Jordan. Three of these, Addax nasomaculatus (Addax), Bos primigenius (Aurochs), and Cervus elaphus (Red Deer) are known only from archaeological excavations. Dama mesopotamica (Mesopotamian Fallow Deer), Oryx leucoryx (Arabian Oryx) and Equus hemionus hemippus (Syrian Wild Ass) have been regionally extirpated in the wild. A semi-captive population of Persian Onager (E. h. hemionus) is held in Shumari Wildlife Reserve. The Arabian Oryx is also managed in semi-captive conditions in two reserves. Except the commonly occurring Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), other surviving ungulate species continue to be under serious threat. Gazella gazella (Palestinian Mountain Gazelle), Capreolus capreolus (European Roe Deer), Gazella marica (Arabian Sand Gazelle), and Gazella dorcas (Dorcas Gazelle) are Critically Endangered, and Capra nubiana (Nubian Ibex) is Endangered in the region. This paper provides a review of the historical and current status of wild ungulates in Jordan, listing the threats and conservation measures and provides recommendations for management and conservation in the future.

A study on Blanford’s Fox was conducted from Tabuk Province, a poorly studied area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), from December 2015 until May 2016. This study adds to our knowledge, where two survey methods were used, which are the live trapping and camera trapping methods. Five specimens were captured alive, in addition to a dead specimen reported during the survey period. Measurements of live, captured specimens were obtained and the skull of the dead specimen was measured. The information provided will serve as a basis for future monitoring of Blanford’s Fox in Saudi Arabia, and it will provide the foundation for future research in the species’ range of occurrence in the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, more attention shall be paid to establish a joint collaboration between scholars from Saudi Arabia and Jordan to assess the status of Blanford’s Fox along the sandstone escarpments Hisma plateau.

Illegal wildlife trade is a major global driver of biodiversity loss, shaped by high consumer demand, transboundary networks, and uneven enforcement. In the Middle East, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, factors such as high purchasing power, cultural traditions (e.g., falconry, prestige pets), and expanding digital marketplaces sustain both legal and illegal flows. We present a nine-year (2017–2025) assessment based on weekly, repeated field surveys at the Friday Market, adjacent pet shops, and private farms, complemented by systematic monitoring of online advertisements on Haraj.com.sa. We recorded 1063 individual animals across 88 species, birds (39.4%), reptiles (52.0%), and mammals (8.6%), and analyzed prices, conservation status, and venue-specific patterns. The most frequently recorded taxa included the white-eared bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis), common slider (Trachemys scripta), and Egyptian mastigure (Uromastyx aegyptia). Mammals, though fewer in number, commanded the highest prices, particularly cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and lions (Panthera leo). About 26% of species were IUCN-listed as threatened, with CITES Appendix I taxa fetching higher prices. Findings underscore the need for real-time monitoring, targeted enforcement, and cross-border collaboration to address escalating trade in rare and protected species.