A desert oasis in Dubai welcomes an unexpected guest: a family of Argentine rodents

A Network of Warrens Among the Dunes

The pack of Patagonian maras has already survived several years in a network of warrens among the dunes at Al Qudra Lakes. An AP journalist encountered at least five maras on a recent visit, including one mother still nursing a baby.

A Suitable Environment

The environment at Al Qudra, with its tree plantations, lawns, and ponds, likely contributes to the maras’ continued survival despite temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. The number of maras at Al Qudra suggests they are breeding.

No Threat to Humans

While the Patagonia maras are herbivores and pose no threat to humans, they likely have very few predators in the area, such as Arabian red foxes. In other parts of the world, there have been instances of people keeping them as exotic pets, which is illegal in the Emirates.

A Desert Oasis Outside of Dubai

The environment at Al Qudra, with its tree plantations, lawns, and ponds, provides an ideal habitat for the Patagonian maras. The temperatures in the UAE regularly reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer, but the maras have managed to adapt and survive despite these extreme conditions.

Breeding and Survival

The number of Patagonian maras at Al Qudra suggests that they are breeding, with females giving birth to one to three offspring at a time. While they pose no threat to humans, the maras likely have very few predators in the area, such as Arabian red foxes.

A History of Trafficking

Patagonian maras have been trafficked into areas as exotic pets in the past. In Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, the appearance of one sparked wide local news coverage earlier this year. However, the animal is now believed by authorities to be dead. There have also been instances of people keeping them as pets in the Emirates, despite it being illegal to keep endangered or threatened wildlife as pets.

A Pack of Patagonian Maras Roam the Grounds

The Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs and big ears, is a common species found in zoological collections. However, it’s not adapted to live in arid environments like the UAE. Despite this, a pack of these animals has been spotted roaming the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures.

How They Got There Remains a Mystery

The exact origin of the Patagonian maras remains a mystery. While some speculate that they may have escaped from captivity or been trafficked into the UAE, others believe that they may have found their way out of a nearby property through digging.

The pack has already survived several years in a network of warrens among the dunes at Al Qudra Lakes. An AP journalist encountered at least five maras on a recent visit, including one mother still nursing a baby.