My family and I were
very lucky to be invited to look around the Saudi Wildlife Authority National
Wildlife Research Centre (NWRC). This is an amazing centre that works on the reintroduction
of rare and scarce species to many of its Protected Areas around the Kingdom
and is a huge credit to the country for its forward thinking on conservation
matters. The centre was established in 1986 and is particularly involved in the
reintroduction of the rapidly declining Macqueen’s Bustard as well as
reintroducing the extinct Ostrich. The Ostrich that occurred in Saudi Arabia,
and was last seen in 1941, was the Arabian Ostrich Stuthio camelus syriacus, but unfortunately there are no examples
of their subspecies left so the birds being reintroduced are the North African
Red-necked Ostrich Stuthio camelus
camelus from Sudan, that is genetically the closest surviving subspecies. Birds
were reintroduced in Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area and now have a
self-sustaining population of around 300 birds, and this is the only place in
Saudi Arabia where you can see this species. The birds are now self-sustaining
and are in fact so successful at breeding that individuals are now being sent
overseas to other breeding centres. Macqueen’s Bustards were reintroduced to
the Protected Area to re-establish a sustainable resident breeding population,
with the NWRC pioneering the captive breeding of Macqueen’s Bustard, which has
now been employed by other centres around the Middle East and North Africa. The
captive breeding birds came from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordon, Iran and
confiscated birds of unknown origin and produce between 150 – 300 birds
annually. There are currently about 250 to 300 Macqueen’s Bustards in Mahazat
as-Sayd Protected Area but they are very difficult to see. A huge amount of
scientific work has gone into the reintroduction of these birds and many
scientific papers have also been written and this is another great success
story from the NWRC. Breeding birds of both of these species are kept at the NWRC but the success of the Ostrich has meant that no breeding is required anymore.
You are not allowed out of the vehicle near the Bustards as they do not want
them habituated to humans.
 |
| North African Red-necked Ostrich |
 |
| Macqueen's Bustard |
The centre also has
a number of rescued or confiscated animals including Arabian Leopard, Stripped
Hyena, Wolf, Cheetah and Lion. Nubian Ibex is being raised at the centre and a
Honey Badger is there that was trapped in Saudi Arabia and sent to the NWRC. Other animals that have been reintroduced by the NWRC are Arabian Oryx
and Sand Gazelle. Since 1997 a number of Arabian Leopard Panthera pardus
nimr have been collected by the centre and with cooperation with the
Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah, which pioneered
captive breeding techniques for the species, a number of cubs have been born.
These animals will, hopefully, ensure the captive survival of the species and
could allow future reintroductions to the wild.
 |
| Arabian Leopard |
 |
| Arabian Oryx |
 |
| Cheetah |
 |
| Honey Badger |
 |
| Striped Hyena |
 |
| Nubian Ibex |
