Native wildlife reintroduced to NEOM Nature Reserve
Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city Neom witnessed releasing of
wildlife Thursday as part of efforts to conserving wildlife and showcasing the
unique biodiversity of the region.
The release of Arabian oryx, Nubian ibex, Arabian sand
gazelle and mountain gazelle is part of a program being carried out in
cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife (NCW).
A NEOM team helped transport the animals from the NCW in
Riyadh in October to the nature reserve. The animals were given enough time to
adapt to the new environment before being released.
The nature reserve covers more than 25,000 sq km and
provides an ecosystem that will encourage biodiversity in the region.
The NCW is aiming to increase numbers of any wildlife
species listed as endangered under the Saudi Green initiative.
The reserve will be home to one of the biggest wildlife
restoration programs in the world, and will allow visitors to learn about NEOM’s
programs for the development and rehabilitation of vegetation and wildlife.
Head of the NEOM Nature Reserve Dr. Paul Marshall said: “The
wildlife release was a historical moment: this is the first time that oryx have
walked the sands of NEOM for nearly 100 years. It was also a demonstration of
our commitment to the protection of nature, which is at the core of NEOM’s
vision.”
CEO of the NCW Dr. Mohammed Qurban said: “Our partnership with NEOM aligns with
the objectives of the national program for reintroducing endangered local
species back into their natural ecosystems, one of the SGI initiatives.”
Source: Arab News, Saudi Gazette
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