24-04-2025
Saudi rewilding program: Endangered wildlife released in Riyadh reserve, rare oryx born in Qassim park
RIYADH: Over 30 endangered animals had been released into Riyadh's King Khalid Royal Reserve as part of the Kingdom's rewilding program, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite, according to the National Center for Wildlife (NCW).
The NCW, in collaboration with the Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, maintains a breeding center in the reserve.
In the central region of Qassim, the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has reported the birth of an Arabian oryx in Qassim National Park.
The birth of the wildlife was documented in all stages by a team from the NCVC, giving specialists to study the behavior of this endangered native species, a separate SPA report said.
Saudi Arabia is a global leader in protecting the Arabian oryx. Since the 1970s, it has launched a national program with international organizations to save the species from extinction.
Efforts have included establishing reserves like Mahazat as-Sayd and Uruq Bani Ma'arid, implementing captive breeding programs, and supporting gradual reintroduction, making Saudi Arabia a global model for wildlife protection.
