Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, May 31, 2025

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority to protect griffon vultures

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority to protect griffon vultures

The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority is working to protect endangered griffon vultures at its sites in the Kingdom.
Spanning an area of 130,700 sq. km, the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve is the largest nature reserve in the Middle East, and also comprises three other main reserves in the north and northwest of the Kingdom: Al-Tubaiq Reserve, Al-Khanfa Reserve and Hurra Al-Hurra Reserve.

The site is home to a variety of archaeological monuments, terrains, natural resources and habitats.

Several months ago, the reserve monitored a large number of griffon vulture nesting sites. The number of griffon vultures is reported to be decreasing across the Arabian Peninsula. However, the griffon vulture is not endangered globally, according to the classification of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The griffon vulture, which typically weighs between six to 11 kilograms with a wingspan of 2.2-2.55 meters, and a length of between 90-150 centimeters, inhabits the central and southern regions of the Kingdom.

The species lives in cliffs, rocky crevices and caves, and builds nests from deadwood.

Afnan Al-Anazi, a media official from the reserve’s development authority, told Arab News that officials are creating permanent protection programs by creating an environment “to host, monitor and evaluate them (griffon vultures) by using satellites, which would help track their behaviors, population and feeding areas, in addition to protecting them from hunting, collision and electrocution.”

Al-Anazi added that the reserve launched a field survey project for birds to estimate population numbers and categorize groups into resident, migratory or visiting species. The survey will also help researchers understand migration paths and engage in continuous monitoring as well as follow-up programs.

The reserve also plans to develop birdwatching tourism programs. “There is a special initiative to create awareness among the local community about the importance of birds in general … and the importance of eagles and their role in providing very important services to the ecosystem,” Al-Anazi said.

The griffon vulture plays a major role in maintaining ecosystem balance by feeding on the carcasses of dead animals such as camels, sheep, goats, ibex and deer, which it spots when soaring at high altitudes.

Al-Anazi said that the the process of feeding on carcasses prevents the spread of diseases and infection, “preventing and protecting us from many diseases caused by these carcasses.”

The efforts of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Al-Anazi said, are focused on helping birds reproduce by “achieving a sustainable ecological balance by protecting biodiversity, especially endangered species.”

The female griffon vulture typically lays one egg each year. It cares for the chick over an incubation period of 48-54 days.

The National Center for Wildlife Development and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority previously signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation in the development of wildlife, biodiversity and sustainability.

The agreement also seeks to work on the resettlement of endangered local animals in the reserve through the center’s breeding facilities, and conduct follow-ups and joint environmental studies to exchange information, knowledge and experience.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Iranian Director Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes
Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine Children of Gaza Doctor
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts Again, Spewing Ash Cloud over Flores Island
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
Senate Democrats Move to Censure Trump Over Qatar Jet Gift
Hamas Releases Last Living US Hostage from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
×