ITBA Announces Birth of Extinct Red-Necked Ostrich Chicks in Saudi Arabia's Nature Reserve
The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve in Saudi Arabia has announced the birth of three endangered red-necked ostrich chicks.
These birds were believed to be extinct in the northern region of the Kingdom for over a century.
The ITBA initiated an ostrich resettlement program in late 2021 to establish a suitable habitat for a pair of the birds.
The program was successful, and the ostriches produced 12 eggs in the spring of 2024.
The ITBA aims to reintroduce rare species into their natural environments as part of a broader commitment to wildlife development, biodiversity conservation, and environmental restoration.
Other rare creatures benefiting from these efforts include the sand gazelle and Arabian oryx.
The ITBA, or Ibrahim Al-Khalil International Wildlife and Nature Reserve, is home to 138 species, including wolves, foxes, felines, birds, and reptiles, spread over an area of 91,000 sq.
km in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
The reserve is a hit among eco-tourists, bird watchers, and hikers.
It also offers cultural experiences, enabling visitors to engage with local Bedouin communities, learn about their customs, and savor traditional cuisine.
In February 2023, ITBA signed an MoU with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives to preserve the reserve's heritage through archaeological surveys, inscription inventory, intangible heritage documentation, and social history identification, as well as grazing location identification.