BBC Earth: Wild Arabia

Steve Backshall starts his discovery of Arabian peninsular wildlife with a study of the varied, deceptive landscape. Arabs for many centuries tap into deep underground aquatic wealth beneath desert landscapes. The onyx, an iconic antelope, symbolizes commendable conservation efforts.

Most of the sun-scorched peninsula is arid and almost barren, but not the coastal Dohar mountains at both sides of the Oman-Yemen border. It has a much richer wildlife, including some rare species, such as the Arabian wolf and Arabian leopard. The sea is even richer, including the only whale species which doesn't migrate to colder waters. The key are the Indian monsoons, which pull away warm water and thus cause cold to rise from the deep with abundant nutrients.

Since the discovery of its fossil fuel wealth, the Arabian peninsula has rapidly developed in many ways. That includes the now many rich Arabs' rapport to wildlife as well as domesticated animals, such as camel races with robot jockeys and falcon's hunting training with remote-control airplane)drawn lures. Marine wildlife is exceptionally rich, despite Saddam's Gulf war petrol well arson. Despite clever technology use and respect for nature, population growth, energy and water use well above world average constitute major ecological dangers.