Top animals of 2018
As we approach the final days of 2018, we take a look at some of our favourite animals in the Middle East!
December 29, 2018 at 12:06 am | Published in:
Africa,
Egypt,
Europe & Russia,
Jordan,
Middle East,
Oman,
Palestine,
Tanzania,
Turkey,
Videos & Photo Stories
![46736761_1677992009012743_9072329908344061952_n Egyptian football player Mohammed Salah posted a selfie of himself with his two Siamese cats on Facebook with the caption: 'Dogs and cats will not be exported anywhere. This will not happen and cannot happen' [Facebook]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/46736761_1677992009012743_9072329908344061952_n.jpg?w=597&h=449&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
Egyptian football player Mohammed Salah posted a selfie of himself with his two Siamese cats on Facebook with the caption: ‘Dogs and cats will not be exported anywhere. This will not happen and cannot happen’ [Facebook]
![Wild cats of Istanbul A 2 month old lion cub is seen at the Lion Park of Tuzla Viaport Marina in Istanbul, Turkey on 6 November 2018 [Serhat Çağdaş/Anadolu Agency]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018_11-8-lion-cubs20181108_2_33315745_38827856.jpg?w=328&h=219&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
A 2 month old lion cub is seen at the Lion Park of Tuzla Viaport Marina in Istanbul, Turkey on 6 November 2018 [Serhat Çağdaş/Anadolu Agency]
![Başkentte "Kedi Güzellik Festivali" düzenlendi These two cheerful cats are all dressed up and ready to be judged. Turkey, 14 October 2018 [Aytaç Ünal/Anadolu Agency]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-24_KITTIES20181014_2_32862214_38087835.jpg?w=328&h=226&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
These two cheerful cats are all dressed up and ready to be judged. Turkey, 14 October 2018 [Aytaç Ünal/Anadolu Agency]
![Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara Capturing these beautiful birds on film is usually very rare and tricky! So we're all very lucky that this little chappie came out to play! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917662.jpg?w=297&h=199&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
Capturing these beautiful birds on film is usually very rare and tricky! So we’re all very lucky that this little chappie came out to play! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![Kizilirmak Delta Bird Sanctuary in Turkey's Samsun A stork flies after catching a fish from the Kizilirmak Delta Bird Sanctuary, which is in the tentative list of UNESCO in Samsun, Turkey on 26 July, 2018 [Mehmet Kumcağız/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20180802_2_31740697_36110546.jpg?w=297&h=198&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
A stork flies after catching a fish from the Kizilirmak Delta Bird Sanctuary, which is in the tentative list of UNESCO in Samsun, Turkey on 26 July, 2018 [Mehmet Kumcağız/Anadolu Agency]
![Color Sky 5K Running Fest In Bursa A dog is covered in colourful powder at the "Color Sky 5k" running fest. 30 September, 2018 [Sergen Sezgin/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180930_2_32626944_37682154.jpg?w=628&h=401&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
A dog is covered in colourful powder at the “Color Sky 5k” running fest. 30 September, 2018 [Sergen Sezgin/Anadolu Agency]

A picture taken on October 14, 2013 shows an elephant in Mikumi National Park, which borders the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania. (Photo by Daniel Hayduk/AFP/Getty Images)
![Palestinians ride horses and camels during a heritage festival in al-Maghazi in the center of Gaza Strip Palestinians ride horses and camels during a heritage festival in al-Maghazi in the center of Gaza Strip on 21 June 2018 [Mahmoud Khattab/Apaimages]](https://i1.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018_6-21-Palestinians-ride-horses-and-camels-during-a-heritage-festival210618_MKH_00-12.jpg?w=462&h=308&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
Palestinians ride horses and camels during a heritage festival in Al-Maghazi in the center of Gaza Strip on 21 June 2018 [Mahmoud Khattab/Apaimages]
![Traditional Horse Show in Oman This rider looks after his horse after a long day of riding. Oman, 23 August 2018 [Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018_10-29-remembering-JamalGettyImages-1023668680.jpg?w=929&h=620&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
This rider looks after his horse after a long day of riding. Oman, 23 August 2018 [Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images]