Asian Houbara Returns to Tabuk Reserve After 35-Year Absence

Twenty Asian houbara have been released inside the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in Tabuk, returning the species to the area for the first time in more than 35 years. The release is part of the ReWild Arabia programme, implemented in collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Houbara Conservation Foundation, and is intended to support the recovery of viable wild populations across the Kingdom.

The Asian houbara is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In Saudi Arabia, resident populations have disappeared, with only occasional sightings of migratory birds along the northern and eastern borders. Historically, the species ranged widely from Egypt to China and once bred extensively within the Kingdom.
As part of the release, 10 of the birds have been fitted with satellite tracking devices to monitor survival rates, movement patterns, habitat use, and potential threats. Data gathered from the tracking programme is expected to guide future reintroduction efforts and refine long-term conservation strategies in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

The Asian houbara holds cultural significance in the region as a traditional quarry in Arabian falconry, which was recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
Sharp declines in houbara populations since the mid-20th century have been linked to habitat loss, unsustainable hunting, and poaching. Conservation efforts in the Kingdom date back to 1985, when the late Prince Saud bin Faisal established the first houbara breeding and research centre in Taif.

The reserve said the Asian houbara is the 13th species reintroduced under a wider programme aiming to restore 23 native species to their historical ranges.