Petroglyphs as a paleobiogeographic guide for Arabian ostrich ecology and reintroduction

Abstract

The Arabian ostrich (Struthio camelus syriacus) was an integral element in the wildlife of the Middle East until its extinction in the mid-20th century. Here we discuss the historic and archaeological record that provides baseline information on the past distribution of ostriches in the Negev Desert (Israel). Specifically, we focus on survey data of ancient petroglyph depictions of ostriches and examine their spatial distribution. Through the application of models of optimal habitat reconstruction using data on the houbara bustard as a proxy species for the ostrich, correlated with the spatial distribution of the ostrich petroglyphs and ecological data on the region, we identified the optimal areas that the Syrian ostrich could have inhabited in the past. Finally, we applied our model to examine reintroduction programs of a closely related ostrich subspecies, S. c. camelus, that have been carried out in the Negev to date.