15 endangered mountain ibexes released in Soudah

CEO of National Center for Wildlife Mohammed Ali Qarban and CEO of Soudah Development Husameddin Al-Madani open the door to a mountain ibex, allowing it to roam in its native environment in the mountains of Soudah. (Supplied)

The National Center for Wildlife, in cooperation with Soudah Development, has released 15 endangered mountain ibexes in Soudah as part of a program to enrich the area’s biodiversity.

The initiative is in line with the orders of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to meet the targets of the Saudi Green Initiative, including developing the environment and improving sustainability, as well as being part of the center’s endeavors to increase numbers of endangered species and relocalize them in their natural habitats, Mohammed Ali Qarban, the center’s CEO, explained.

Qurban told Arab News that “the center conducts research on the living conditions of the released animals and their movements to provide information on the best timing and composition of the groups that will be launched in the reserves on a regular basis."

He pointed out that the center “monitors biodiversity in protected areas by tracking vital groups and documenting information related to each protected area using modern technologies. The center trains wildlife protec-tion specialists and workers in charge of reserves, developing their research capabilities to help localize breeding techniques and reintroduction of endangered species.”

He explained that the release of the ibexes reflects the center’s efforts to develop and implement national plans to address wildlife threats by multiplying and reintroducing endangered local species.

This will help restore the ecological balance of natural ecosystems to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to build a positive and attractive environment and improve the quality of life, in line with global efforts.

He emphasized that the center runs specialized, pioneering facilities to increase the number of endangered animals and their reintroduction to their natural environments.

The center also maintains the genealogical record of these species by keeping private information about them in a database.Soudah Development CEO Husameddin Al-Madani said that protecting natural resources and helping the Kingdom’s native species are among the company’s top priorities.He noted that the release of 15 mountain ibexes is the first step in a series of initiatives to reintroduce and protect wildlife in Al-Soudah.