The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has reintroduced the Asian houbara bustard to the reserve after an absence of more than 35 years.
Twenty Asian houbara have been released within the reserve through cooperation between the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, the National Center for Wildlife and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Houbara Conservation Foundation. The program is intended to establish viable wild populations of the species in the Kingdom using a research-led approach.
The Asian houbara, scientifically known as Chlamydotis macqueenii, once ranged from Egypt to China. In Saudi Arabia, the bird bred widely, while migratory populations wintered across the Arabian Peninsula. The species is now classified as Critically Endangered across the region by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Wild resident populations no longer exist in the Kingdom and migratory birds are only occasionally recorded near the northern and eastern borders.
Ten of the released birds have been fitted with satellite tracking devices to collect data on survival, movement patterns, habitat use and threats. Olivier Combreau, chief executive of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Houbara Conservation Foundation, said the data would be used to guide future releases and support long-term population recovery in Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions.
The reserve’s marine and terrestrial management framework covers 24,500 square kilometres and includes habitat restoration, ranger patrols and community engagement programs aimed at providing protection for reintroduced species.
The houbara is closely linked to Arabian falconry, which has been practised for thousands of years and was recognised by UNESCO in 2021 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditional hunting practices once followed seasonal cycles, but habitat loss, unsustainable hunting and poaching contributed to a sharp population decline from the mid-20th century.
Conservation efforts expanded in 1985 with the establishment of a dedicated houbara breeding and research centre in Taif by the late Prince Saud Al-Faisal. Breeding centres now operate across the Gulf, producing large numbers of birds in captivity, though the return of self-sustaining wild populations has remained limited.
Andrew Zaloumis, chief executive of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, said scientific work over several decades has enabled large-scale breeding of houbara, with current efforts focused on improving survival rates in the wild through cooperation with the Houbara Conservation Foundation.
The Asian houbara is the 13th species to be reintroduced under the reserve’s rewilding program, which seeks to return 23 native species to their historical habitats. The program supports national objectives under Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, including biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration.
One of eight royal reserves in Saudi Arabia, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve extends from the Harrat lava fields to the Red Sea and connects NEOM, Red Sea Global and AlUla. It covers about 1 per cent of the Kingdom’s land area and 1.8 per cent of its marine area and includes 15 ecosystems that together contain more than half of Saudi Arabia’s recorded species.
The reserve is overseen by the Royal Reserves Council, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and operates as part of the Kingdom’s national conservation and sustainability programs.