Catherine Capon, UK, 21 March 2018

The Last Land of the Unicorn

12/04/2018 14:58

The Last Land of the Unicorn CATHERINE CAPON · WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH 2018

Extinction is forever, unicorns don’t exist and you have to have a degree to be a scientist. What if I told you that I’ve found an experience that busts all of these myths? All you’ll need to do is swap in your week-long beach holiday to go camping in the desert. A slightly more challenging trip, but a far better story for the grandkids.

Dubai is known for its skyscrapers, shopping malls and overindulgent hotels but my visit to the UAE had me living more like Levison Wood than Lewis Hamilton. Seeing the glistering buildings of the city shrinking in the 4x4s rear view mirror, I was heading into the desert.

Home for the week was the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR); the country’s first national park and a whopping 225km squared in size. The land was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1997 to protect the threatened native flora and fauna and his plan has certainly worked. https://www.facebook.com/notes/catherine-capon/the-last-land-of-the-unicorn/1897783256940260/

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The Last Land of the Unicorn

12/04/2018 14:58

Far from the lifeless landscape I was imagining, oryx and oases welcomed me to base camp.

The magnitude of the task that I was here to perform dawned on me like the vastness of the vistas. Data collection and behavioural study of the creatures in this reserve wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. A desert expedition really was what I’d signed up for.

After some mildly terrifying survival and 4x4 driving training, we were ready to track down our target species; the Arabian Oryx. This beautiful white antelope contrasts so dramatically against the red sand that it isn’t hard to see why it became extinct in the wild in the 1970s due to hunting. However, thanks to captive breeding populations, the Arabian Oryx was reintroduced to the reserve and herds of unicorns* now pepper the former sand pit. *OK, most have two horns, but a few males truly are unicorns due to battles with other males for mating rights.

Bringing a species back from extinction is no easy matter and Greg Simkins, Head Scientist at the DDCR, has worked tirelessly for over 20 years to ensure that every reintroduction has been a success. It was a privilege to work alongside such a conservation hero. Knowing that the data we were collecting as volunteers was helping preserve the natural wonders of this region made the expedition hardships seem totally worthwhile.

‘Hardships’, I hear you say, ‘but I’ve used my annual leave to be here!’ A word of warning for anyone wanting to follow in our sandy footsteps, THIS IS NOT A HOLIDAY. Expect sweat, achy limbs, early mornings, sand everywhere and bush mania (this delirium sets in after https://www.facebook.com/notes/catherine-capon/the-last-land-of-the-unicorn/1897783256940260/

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The Last Land of the Unicorn

12/04/2018 14:58

counting and identifying every shrub on the reserve). However, hazy desert sunrises, the undulating beauty of the dunes and the satisfaction that you’re actually doing something hugely productive for the future of our fragile planet overshadows all of these minor discomforts.

Whenever I felt myself about to moan, I’d look to Mary, my fellow volunteer and citizen scientist. At 60+, this awe-inspiring woman was hammering camera trap stakes into the ground, two-wheeling around the reserve, GPS collaring wild animals and trekking for miles every day on foot. Rather than taking it easy in her retirement, Mary is helping the planet, making memories and staying active. My motto from this great adventure……be more like Mary.

Catherine visited the DDCR in January with Biosphere Expeditions.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/catherine-capon/the-last-land-of-the-unicorn/1897783256940260/

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