Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 20, December 1990, pp. 1-11. | Page 10

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between the end of March and the beginning of April. Because she had been kept
isolated for several years at the Tel Aviv Zoo, she began to breed only in 1977 at
six years of age. She bore four cubs (all males) in 1977, six cubs (4 males, 2
females) in 1978, and a single male cub in 1979 (Mendelssohn I982).
There is only one observation on the time of reproduction in northern Palestine.
A female in the last stages of gravidity was shot on 29 April 1952 at the hill range
of Ramot Yissakhar. It may be, therefore, that reproduction in the Mediterranean
area takes place somewhat later than in the desert (Mendelssohn I982).
Wolves in Palestine can live more than 8 years. It is reported that sex ratios in
wolf populations are unequal. It is possible that the preponderance of males in
Palestinian wolves is a real one, but it could also be that the females are more
cautious than the males in relation to such mortality factors as road accidents,
poisons and traps. The seemingly higher mortality rate of males in Palestine
could either reflect a preponderance of males in litters, or greater caution on the
part of females (Mendelssohn I982).
The wolves in Palestine are protected by the “Israeli” Wild Animals Protection
Law of 1954; but they are poisoned illegally if they prey on live-stock. Wolves are
only occasionally shot in Palestine. Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabi Al-Alameen.

References and Internet Websites:
Ellerman, J. R. and Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. (1951). Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian
Mammals 1758 to 1946. Trustees of the Brit. Mus. Pub. London. pp. 810.
Harrison, David L. (1968). The Mammals of Arabia. Volume 2. Ernest Benn Limited, London.
Harrison, David L. (1973). Some comparative features of the skulls of wolves (Canis lupus
Linn.) and pariah dogs (Canis familiaris Linn.) from the Arabian Peninsula and neighboring
lands. Bonner Zoologische Beiträge, Herausgeber: Zoologisches Forschungsintitut und
Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn (24): 185 – 191.
Harrison, David L. (1981). Mammals of the Arabian Gulf. George Allen & Unwin, London.
pps. 92.
Harrison, D. L. and P. J. J. Bates (1991). The mammals of Arabia. 2nd ed. Harrison Zoological
Museum Publication.
Khalaf, Norman-Ali B. (1984). The Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in the
Arabian Peninsula. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178-6288. Second
Year, No.5, May 1984. pp.1-18. (In Arabic).
Khalaf, Norman Ali B. (1987). The Sinai Leopard (Panthera pardus jarvisi) in Palestine.
Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178-6288. Federal Republic of Germany.
Fifth Year. Number 12. February 1987. pp.1-9.
Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1990). The Wolf (Canis lupus) in Palestine. Gazelle:
The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178-6288. Eighth Year, Number 20, December
1990, Jumada Al Thani 1411 AH. pp. 1-11. Rilchingen-Hanweiler and Bonn-Bad Godesberg,
Federal Republic of Germany. http://animals-of-palestine.webs.com/the-wolf-inpalestine
Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2013). Fauna Palaestina – Part Three.
Zoological Studies in Palestine between 2005 – 2012 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Drei.
Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 2005 – 2012. ISBN 978-9950-383-35-7. Erste
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 20 – December 1990