TITLE:
On the Palestinian Reptilian Fauna Caged and/or Kept Stuffed at Zoos of the Gaza Strip
AUTHORS:
Abdel Fattah N. Abd Rabou
KEYWORDS:
Reptilian Fauna, Marine Turtles, Snakes, Hunting, Zoos, Gaza Strip, Palestine
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.14 No.12,
December
26,
2024
ABSTRACT: The strategic geographical location of Palestine, along with its topography, diversity of ecosystems and climatic changes, create a suitable environment for the presence of reptiles. Zoos in the Gaza Strip have a variety of zoo animals including terrestrial, freshwater and marine reptiles. The present study aims to document the Palestinian reptiles held in captivity and/or kept stuffed at zoos in the Gaza Strip. Repeated visits to Gaza zoos were conducted over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2019 to achieve the purpose of the study. Digital cameras and guidebooks were used to document and identify Palestinian reptiles. In addition, interviews were carried out with zoo owners and workers and some reptile hunters who provide live and even dead specimens to Gaza zoos and had their specimens identified and photographed. A total of 29 Palestinian reptile species (one crocodile, four turtles, six lizards and 18 snake species), belonging to 3 orders and 15 families, were recorded as live or preserved specimens at Gaza zoos. The Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), which went extinct in Palestine since the beginning of the 20th century, is the biggest reptilian encountered in the current study. Nearly all these reptiles were trapped using different means in the marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments of the Gaza Strip. Two of the highly threatened global sea turtle species were encountered: the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) and the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). The Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca), which is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, is kept in relatively large numbers in cages at Gaza zoos. The Desert Monitor (Varanus griseus), Palestine Viper (Daboia palaestinae), and Syrian Black Snake (Coluber jugularis asianus) were the most occurring lizard and snake species at Gaza zoos. In conclusion, zoos are good tools that contribute to Palestinians’ knowledge of their wildlife resources. The ecological role of reptiles in their ecosystems requires Palestinians to protect and conserve them as well as all forms of wildlife in a sustainable manner.