30.10.2026 02:25
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Patagonian maras, whose natural habitats are located thousands of kilometers away, have begun to breed in the desert. While the number of these rodents native to Argentina is estimated to have reached about 200, how the animals arrived in the region has not yet been definitively determined.
Patagonian maras, native to South America, have begun to be seen around the Al Qudra lakes, approximately 40 kilometers from downtown Dubai, and in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
The animals, notable for their long legs and rabbit-like appearance, are adapting to desert conditions and continuing to live in the area.
THEY WERE FIRST SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC
The first records of Patagonian maras in the area were made in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. During field surveys conducted in November 2024, different groups of maras living in the desert were observed. The sighting of a female nursing her young and of juvenile individuals showed that the animals are breeding in the area.
THEIR NUMBER MAY HAVE REACHED 200
The number of Patagonian maras in the area is estimated to have reached approximately 200. However, since no official census has been conducted by the authorities, the exact number of the animals is unknown.
WHERE THEY CAME FROM REMAINS A MYSTERY
It is not yet clear how these animals, whose native homeland is Argentina, reached the Dubai desert. Experts are focusing on the possibility that the maras may have escaped from private properties or facilities housing exotic animals.
Jacky Judas, who conducts research on mammals in the United Arab Emirates, also stated that the animals most likely escaped from places where they were kept in captivity.
The ability of Patagonian maras to survive and breed in the desert environment continues to attract the interest of wildlife researchers in the area.