JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia began work on releasing more than 1,500 rare animals in Alula on Tuesday. The Royal Commission's biggest release project for Alula involved four species in five phases.
Arab Gazelle, deer, Arabic deer and ibex Nubia will be released in three Alula nature reserves: Sharaan, Wadi Nakhlah and Al Gharameel.
The latest release is the largest since the commission's reintroduction program began in February 2019. It was done on an area that stretches an area of 12,400 square kilometers in Alula
"The animal release program shows how the RCU is trying hard to promote habitat regeneration and recovery of native animal species in northwestern Saudi Arabia," said Dr Stephen Browne, executive director of the Wildlife and Natural Heritage Commission.
"As a result, we are a growing party in the restoration and conservation of biodiversity regionally and internationally," he explained.
The release will include 650 Arab deer, 550 Pasir deer, 280 Arab oryx, and 100 Nubia ibex with a total of 1,580 animals. The first stage, on January 10, 80 animals were released into the wild.
Conservation efforts are also focused on planting native vegetation and developing new infrastructure, including quarantine cages.
All animals have satellite trackers and will be monitored by commission ranger troops.
This is the first time a light solar-powered tracker will be used for a quackling species in the region.
The Commission hopes to release more animals five times this year than it will be in 2022.
"Animal reintroduction is carried out in line with the best practices and guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), including prior quarantine, monitoring after release and in-depth analysis of monitoring results," explained zoologist Yousef Alfaifi.
It is known that the animals released were from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The commission has carried out extensive genetic and physical examinations, as well as health checks to ensure their fitness to be released into the wild.
Dr. Browne said the reintroduction of Arab leopards, the top predators, would be the culmination of the regeneration project. The plan is to do it by 2030.
International Union for Conservation Nature classifies Arab leopards as endangered.
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