Wildlife Research

JAS · Nov 6, 2020

While this section is focused on Wildlife Photography, we should not forget the tremendous work done by various research centers around the world in maintaining and restoring native species back into their historic habitats.
These photos are from a few years ago taken at the National Wildlife Research Center near Taif, Saudi Arabia. The facility is still operating today. Here are shots of some of the historically native Arabian Peninsula species they are working with.

1. Sand Gazelles and Ibex being bred for release into protected areas.

2. Arabian Oryx, rebred over a few generations from a small group of Tuberculosis infected animals. The young were taken at birth then hand raised to be disease free. Their offspring were then bred for release. They are being released into protected areas. The UAE has a well established Oryx restoration program.

3. Red-necked ostrich. One of two ostrich species native to Africa and originally also present on the Arabian peninsula.

4. Houbara bustard, the original prey of falconers on the peninsula being bred for release.

5. Arabian Leopard. Still present i nthe wild in very small numbers. There is a captive breeding program at the facility but given the sinsitivity of the animals to haman presence, we were not allowed near that area. This old, cranky male was not suitable to be part of the breeding program.

The facility also harbors confiscated wildlife from people's personal collections including cheetahs, lions and a few other. There was also an Arabian wolf on site but not posing nicely for us.
It was an amazing place to visit. Progress is slow, but the work continues.

PS - I have been in Saudi since 2009 helping the government manage ecological restoration work addressing damages from the 1991 war using war reparations funds collected from Iraq by the UN. Special project to work on!