page_title: Dukhan
section_title: Wildlife
hierarchical_section_title: Dukhan / Geography / Wildlife
caption_attribution_description: English: A bedouin herding his camels in Dukhan, western Qatar.
context_page_description: Dukhan is a city in the western municipality of Al-Shahaniya in the State of Qatar. It is approximately 80 kilometres west of the capital, Doha. Dukhan is administrated by Qatar's state oil agency Qatar Petroleum and is the site of the first oil discovery in Qatar. It was previously a part of Al Rayyan municipality.
  All the industrial operations inside the city are administrated by the Dukhan Operations Department. A special permit from Qatar Petroleum, in the form of a Dukhan entry gate pass, is required for entry to the city. Dukhan Highway, a four-lane motorway that runs for approximately 66 km, connects the city with Doha.
context_section_description: Pastoralism has historically been dominant among the nomads of the area as many areas of Dukhan offer suitable grazing territory for camels. Common flora in the area used for grazing include zygophyllum qatarense and vachellia tortilis. 
  Once oil activities commenced, grazing camels often suffered ill-effects from oil pollution and litter. Some camels unknowingly consume residue and waste material left over from oil extraction and fall sick. Furthermore, camels may come into contact with sensitive infrastructure, such as switches for oil wells and fences. Incidents have been recorded of camels causing leakages in oil wells, turning off oil wells and injuring themselves on such installations. It was reported in 1992 that oftentimes, camels crossing the roads around Dukhan were the cause of fatal motor accidents, particularly at night. In the early days of Dukhan's oil operations, livestock owners would be compensated by Qatar Petroleum for any incidents resulting in the death of their camels, however, this precedent was overruled in 1985, with the new official position stating that pastoralists were to be held responsible for their livestock.
  The buffer zone of the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve starts at a point slightly north of the city.
caption: A Bedouin herding his camels in Dukhan, photographed in 2006
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