Sea turtles
Sea turtles
Sea turtles and the coastal landscape of Oman have formed a symbiosis for thousands of years. These prehistoric reptiles are, however, threatened with extinction and are protected worldwide. For this reason, the government of Oman has established several nature reserves along the coast. The approximately 2000 km long coastline of the country serves as an important site for egg-laying and thus reproduction for sea turtles. It is the most important breeding ground for sea turtles in the Indian Ocean. Of the seven species of sea turtles that live worldwide, five nest on the beaches of Oman. This is a world record.
Turtles live almost exclusively in water; only the female individuals come ashore to lay their eggs. On average, sea turtles live to be 100 years old and only become sexually mature at around 40 years of age. They feed on jellyfish, shellfish, seagrass, or algae.
The so-called Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Ridley turtle) has its breeding site on the coast of Oman. Unfortunately, scientists predict a poor future for them. It seems certain that this species will be extinct in a few years. The situation is different for the Chelonia mydas (Green sea turtle). Its preferred nesting area is along the coastline between Ras al-Hadd and Ra’s ar Ru’ays. Further south, in the region around Masirah Island, is the largest population of Caretta (Loggerhead turtle). The Daymaniyat Islands are home to a reserve for the Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle). The fifth species of sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle), also inhabits the waters of Oman but does not breed here. The uniqueness lies in the size of this animal. It measures over 2 meters and weighs between 500 and 900 kg.
Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home
Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.
We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.
From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.
Experts for your Oman trip
You might also like this
Arabian Leopards
The Arabian leopard is one of the smallest subspecies of leopard and is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is an endangered species that has been on the red list since 1996. The number of Arabian leopards is estimated to range from 80 to 300 individuals. No more precise figures are available. The coat of the Arabian leopard has a rosette pattern and colors range from pale yellow to golden to yellow-brown. Males weigh about 30 kilograms and stand 1.30 meters tall. Females weigh only 20 kilograms and are correspondingly smaller. Generally, the Arabian leopard is smaller than the African and Per...
Oman in Ancient Times
Muslim Arabs, led by the companion of the Prophet Amr ibn al-As, conquered the region of Oman around 630 AD and made it part of the Caliphate of the Umayyads and Abbasids. They ruled Oman for an extended period from Baghdad and Damascus. This marks the dawn of Islam in Oman. Just a few decades later, the Islamic sect of Ibadism emerged, establishing independent Imamate in the interior around 900 AD. After prolonged power struggles, the authority of the Imams lost influence to the Nabhani dynasty, which managed to reunite Oman around 1180 AD. The Nabhani made Bahla their capital, but were cons...
Traditional production of rose water
The rose gardens of Jebel Akhbar come to life every year between the end of March and the beginning of May. Every morning, the rose growers go to their fields to pick the blossoms of their roses. These are collected in large baskets and then taken to the distillery, where rose water is made from the blossoms. The harvest season is short, and in comparison, the efforts throughout the year are significant to achieve the best possible harvest. However, the still quite high prices that farmers can achieve on the markets for their rose water more than compensate for the efforts. The high price that...