Animals in Jordan
Arabian Oryx
Oryx leucoryx
The oryx is used as a national animal symbol for Jordan and represents life in open desert plains. Its pale coat and long straight horns make it easy to recognise in photos, visitor centres and education material. Stories about oryx often appear in parks, museums and school programs that explain how modern conservation helped return this desert antelope to protected areas.
View details→Wildlife in Jordan
Jordan combines desert plateaus, rocky canyons, river valleys and a short Red Sea coast. Visitors usually meet wildlife in nature reserves, jeep tours across desert landscapes and easy trails near canyons or oases. From these routes it is possible to see gazelles, ibex, foxes, wolves and many birds while still staying close to villages and simple tourist camps.
Most Dangerous Animals in Jordan
Danger for visitors in Jordan appears mainly in quiet rural or desert areas. Wild boar can defend themselves with force if they feel cornered in dense scrub, and wolves, striped hyenas and honey badgers are strong carnivores that usually avoid people. Most visitors only notice tracks, distant calls or short views from vehicles or marked paths at dusk or dawn.
Top 10 Animals in Jordan
The top 10 list for Jordan highlights desert camels, wolves and a fast bird of prey that match its main landscapes. Dromedary camels move across open plains and are common images in desert tours. Grey wolves use quiet hills and steppe zones, while the peregrine falcon hunts near cliffs and ridges that many visitors see from road viewpoints and simple hiking routes.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
In Jordan, the golden jackal inhabits the Jordan Valley, the highlands near the Dead Sea, and the northern woodlands around Ajloun. It is one of the country's most adaptable wild carnivores, feeding on small mammals, invertebrates, fruit, and refuse near human settlements. Pairs and small family groups are most vocal at night. Its status is Least Concern.
Arabian Oryx
Oryx leucoryx
Jordan, where the Arabian oryx is the national animal, started one of the first breeding programs in 1978 at the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, near Azraq. Animals from Shaumari were later sent to other countries, and in 2009 the UAE donated 20 oryx to start a herd in the Wadi Rum Protected Area, where they now roam the red sand valleys in the south of the country. Herds remain small and closely managed. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Sand Gazelle
Gazella marica
In Jordan, the sand gazelle once crossed the eastern desert, the open Badia of gravel plains that runs toward Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Hunting left only very small numbers there. The Shaumari Wildlife Reserve near Azraq, opened in 1975 as a breeding center, received 40 sand gazelles to help rebuild the herd, which shares the reserve with the Arabian oryx. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Nubian Ibex
Capra nubiana
In Jordan, the Nubian ibex lives in the canyons of the Mujib reserve, in Dana and in the sandstone mountains of Wadi Rum. Hunting nearly wiped it out, so a breeding program began at Mujib in 1989 and its ibexes were later released into the gorges, while Abu Dhabi sent a herd of ibexes to Wadi Rum. Poaching and grazing by goats still limit the herds, and the IUCN reports a decline. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Mountain Gazelle
Gazella gazella
In Jordan the mountain gazelle is on the edge of disappearing. It once lived in the hills around Salt, but after decades of hunting and habitat loss only a few have been reported near the Yarmouk and Jordan rivers in the north, and the last confirmed sighting was in 2015. The IUCN still lists Jordan in its range, so any gazelles left likely move in from the larger groups across the border. IUCN status: Endangered.
Badger
Meles meles
In Jordan, badgers are rare and live only in the north and northwest, in the oak and pine woodlands of the Ajloun and Dibeen area and the nearby hills, near the southern edge of the species' range. They are nocturnal and seldom seen, digging setts on wooded slopes and feeding on insects, fruit and roots. Many scientists call them the Caucasian badger, while the IUCN counts them as Eurasian badgers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Gray wolves in Jordan are rarely seen and exist in very small numbers, primarily in the more remote areas of the north and east of the country. Jordan lies near the southern edge of the wolf's range in the Levant region. Habitat loss and human pressure have greatly reduced their presence over time, and the species is considered locally rare, often moving across borders with neighboring countries.
Marten
Martes martes / Martes foina
In Jordan, the stone marten lives in the pine and oak forests of the northern highlands, such as Dibeen Forest Reserve and the hills around Ajloun, at the southern edge of its range. A trapping study at Dibeen found it present but scarce. It is the only marten in the country, mostly active at night, and it eats rodents, birds, insects and fruit. These small, isolated forests make it one of the rarer carnivores in Jordan. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox lives across Jordan, from the oak and pine forests of Ajloun and the farmland of the north to the rocky highlands of the Dana Biosphere Reserve and the red desert of Wadi Rum. It is a generalist that survives in dry scrub and semi desert by changing what it eats with the seasons: rodents, insects, lizards, fruit and scraps near villages and camps. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
In Jordan, wild boars live mainly in the forested highlands of the north, around Ajloun and Dibbeen, and in the thick vegetation of the Jordan Valley and its side streams. Because pork is not eaten for religious reasons, they face little hunting and are seen more as crop pests than as game. Wolves and striped hyenas share their range, and farmers sometimes get permits to cull them. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Dromedary Camel
Camelus dromedarius
Dromedary camels are a familiar sight across Jordan's eastern desert, known as the Badia, as well as in the famous Wadi Rum valley, where they have carried traders and travellers for millennia. Bedouin families in Jordan keep camels for milk, meat, and tourist trekking. The animals are well suited to Jordan's rocky desert terrain and remain an important part of both the rural economy and the country's cultural identity. IUCN status: not evaluated.
Caracal
Caracal caracal
The caracal occurs in Jordan across desert and dry zones, including the wadi systems and rocky escarpments of the south and east of the country. It is a nocturnal predator that targets small mammals and birds. Sightings have been recorded in areas such as Wadi Rum and the eastern badia. Though the IUCN considers it Least Concern globally, habitat loss and human conflict remain concerns at the local level.
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
In Jordan, striped hyenas live in the rocky deserts of the east and south, including the Wadi Rum area, and in the hills of the north. In eastern Jordan their main food has been the carcasses of feral horses and water buffalo and the waste of villages. They are shy and come out only at night, sharing the land with wolves, golden jackals and Nubian ibex. Illegal killing and the loss of prey are the main threats. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
In Jordan the honey badger is very rare and is thought to live at very low density in the eastern desert and the dry south. In 2022 a local guide filmed one in the Burqu Nature Reserve, in the far east of the country, one of the few recent records. It is a tough, solitary hunter that digs for rodents and reptiles, and its nocturnal habits and the harsh terrain make it very hard to find. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Sand Cat
Felis margarita
In Jordan the sand cat is very rare and lives in the sandy and stony Eastern Desert, far from towns and farms. In 2024 it was recorded for the first time in Al Dahek Reserve, bringing the number of protected areas in Jordan where it has been found to three. It hunts rodents and reptiles at night and shares the desert with Arabian oryx, caracals and red foxes. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Chameleon
Chamaeleonidae
In Jordan the common chameleon lives mainly in the Jordan Valley and the northwestern highlands, around Ajloun and Irbid, where Mediterranean scrub and fruit orchards provide shelter and prey. It moves slowly and relies on color change and stillness to avoid being seen. Habitat loss and collection for local trade put pressure on a distribution that is already limited within the country. It is most active in spring and summer. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
Jordan's position along the Great Rift Valley makes it a key passage point for steppe eagles migrating between Central Asia and Africa. The Wadi Araba, the area around Aqaba and the Jordan Valley see these broad winged raptors each spring, often in the same streams of birds that cross Eilat just across the border. Fewer birds pass in autumn. Counts in Jordan are part of international efforts to track the species. IUCN status: Endangered.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
The griffon vulture is found in Jordan's highland regions, particularly around the cliffs of Wadi Dana, Petra, and the Mujib Biosphere Reserve. These protected areas provide the undisturbed cliff faces the species needs to nest and raise its young. It also soars over the Jordan Rift Valley, scanning the ground for carrion far below. Conservation work within Jordan's nature reserves has helped maintain a small but stable population. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
The lanner falcon is a resident bird in Jordan, found in the desert wadis, sandstone cliffs, and rocky highlands that stretch across much of the country. It feeds mainly on birds and is well suited to arid conditions. Jordan sits within the species' Middle Eastern range, and the bird has a long association with falconry culture in the region. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Jordan lies along the migration route of the saker falcon, and the bird is recorded as a passage migrant and winter visitor in the country's arid eastern deserts and open plains. The Azraq wetland reserve and the eastern Badia region are among the areas where the species has been observed. Illegal trapping for the falconry trade is a known threat throughout the Arabian region. The IUCN lists the saker falcon as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found across Jordan in open farmland, scrubland, and rocky desert fringes from the Jordan Valley and the northern highlands to the desert regions of the south. It nests in old buildings, ruins, cliff faces, and rock crevices, and hunts rodents and other small prey at night. In the agricultural areas of the northern highlands and the Jordan Valley it is a useful rodent controller. Its ability to survive in arid conditions makes it one of the more adaptable birds of prey in Jordan's diverse landscape.
Crane
Grus grus
Jordan lies on the migration route between Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and common cranes cross the country each autumn and spring, with some birds staying through the winter. The Jordan Valley and the Azraq Wetland Reserve in the eastern desert are the main places to see them, offering water and food in an arid landscape. Restoration work at Azraq has helped cranes and many other migrants. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Jordan sits directly beneath one of the world's busiest bird migration routes, and the white stork is a spectacular sight each spring and autumn as large flocks ride thermals northward or southward through the Jordan Valley. The Azraq Wetland Reserve and the fertile farmland of the north provide resting and feeding stops for migrating birds. The species does not breed in Jordan but passes through in considerable numbers. It feeds on frogs, insects, and small vertebrates. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail passes through Jordan in considerable numbers during spring and autumn migration, following the Great Rift Valley, one of the most significant bird migration corridors in the world. It also winters in the country, particularly around the Jordan River, the Azraq Wetland Reserve and irrigated farmland. Its bold black and white plumage and restless tail movement make it a standout bird in Jordan's open landscapes. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
In Jordan, the peregrine falcon is seen regularly along the cliffs of Wadi Rum and the rocky escarpments of the Dead Sea region during migration and winter. Some pairs nest on the sandstone walls of the country's dramatic desert canyons. Jordan lies along a major migratory corridor connecting Europe and Africa, making it an important stopover point for this species each year. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
In Jordan, the nightingale occurs mainly as a passage migrant moving between Europe and Africa, though some birds also breed in suitable areas with dense vegetation in the north of the country. The wooded valleys and scrubby hillsides of northern Jordan, including areas around Ajloun, provide stopover and nesting habitat. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Jordan, the golden eagle is a scarce resident of the rocky mountains and desert ranges of the south and along the Rift Valley, such as Wadi Rum and the Dana Biosphere Reserve, with more birds arriving in winter. It hunts hares, partridges and hyraxes over dry, open terrain and nests on remote cliffs. Shooting and disturbance threaten it. Pairs need huge territories here, because prey is thin on the ground. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (6 species)
The greater flamingo visits Jordan outside the breeding season, in small numbers. Birds turn up mainly in winter and on migration at the few wetlands of this dry country, such as the Azraq oasis in the eastern desert and the coast and ponds around Aqaba on the Red Sea. They stop to rest and feed on small invertebrates before continuing their journeys between colonies further north and wintering grounds in Africa and Arabia. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
Jordan's only coast is a short stretch of the Gulf of Aqaba, and the great barracuda lives on its reefs. Divers meet it in the Aqaba Marine Park, a protected strip of fringing coral reef that starts right next to the beach, and around the wrecks sunk there, such as the Cedar Pride. It usually hangs alone in the blue near the reef edge, a calm, curious fish for the many divers who visit Aqaba. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Parrotfish
Scaridae
Jordan's only coast is a short stretch of the Gulf of Aqaba, and its reefs are busy with parrotfish. In the Aqaba Marine Park the rusty parrotfish is the most common species, grazing in small groups on the fringing reef that starts right next to the beach. Males show a rust colored head and a green tail, while females are brownish. Their grazing keeps algae under control on these narrow reefs, which are among the northernmost in the world. IUCN status: varies by species.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .