Muscat – Environment Authority (EA) has successfully collected gene samples from honey badgers and red foxes in Dhofar in its efforts to preserve wildlife.

This initiative is a part of its broader mission to establish a gene bank to preserve Oman’s wild animal genetic heritage.

According to an EA official, the Directorate of Environment in Dhofar trapped specimens specifically for sampling purposes. After sample collection, the animals were released back into their natural habitats.

Following collection, these samples are frozen in the project’s initial phase.

The red fox, frequently sighted near human settlements, including cities, is one of the sultanate’s most common predators. These creatures are nocturnal and live in burrows, emerging at night to hunt for food.

Honey badgers are commonly found in Dhofar and the central part of Oman.