National Center for Wildlife to Run 50 Breeding Programmes by 2030

Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife has launched a plan to operate 50 wildlife breeding programmes by 2030 to improve environmental balance across the Kingdom.

According to Mohammed Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, the number of active programmes has increased from seven to 21 in recent years amid renewed focus on protecting native species.

The programmes follow scientific protocols that begin with species selection at research centres and extend through veterinary care and specialised nutrition. Animals are then rehabilitated and released into the wild, with post-release monitoring conducted through tracking and data analysis technologies.

Qurban said the relocation of more than 10,000 animals represents a step towards restoring ecosystems and enhancing environmental balance. He added that reintroducing wildlife contributes to forming new self-sustaining populations, supports genetic diversity and strengthens resilience against disease and environmental change.

Releases to date have covered more than 80 priority species, including reem antelopes, Arabian oryx, idmi gazelles, mountain ibex, houbara bustards, ostriches and sandgrouses. Animals have been released within their historical and ecological ranges, with planning informed by habitat carrying capacity and the development of safe ecological corridors linking protected areas.

Release sites span more than 60 locations across natural reserves, royal reserves and national parks, as well as strategic sites within the Kingdom’s giga-projects to facilitate species dispersal across targeted ranges.