Hunting of migratory birds banned this year

Saudi Arabia recently announced a ban on hunting migratory birds, expressing concern regarding the transmission of bird flu into the country.
The Ministry of Interior, which is the authority responsible for regulating hunting activities, has in cooperation with the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA), specified the periods and locations for hunting this year. The year has been divided into eight hunting seasons.
In a statement released Wednesday, the ministry said: “The government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, which is keen on preserving the country’s wildlife, has banned the hunting of all migratory birds in the Empty Quarter. The decision has been made due to fears of transmitting bird flu to human beings.”
The ministry urged residents and citizens to adhere to the ban, stressing the fact that hunting is only permissible for individuals who have obtained a license from regional governorates.
Meanwhile, an official of the SWA asserted Thursday that the Kingdom is free of bird flu virus. However, the government is taking precautionary measures against the spread of the virus during hunting season.
He added that according to health experts there are chances that the birds could carry the virus and spread the disease in the temporary nests they build.
Hunting the infected birds, he noted, would aggravate matters and spread bird flu.
The Kingdom hosts several thousand migratory birds, which begin their return journey in the spring to their summer homes.
The migratory birds, mostly originate from East and North Europe as well as the Levant region. They include houbara bustards, passerines, flamingos, pelicans, cranes and turtledoves.
Migratory birds halt temporarily mainly at Al-Hair in Riyadh, Al-Asfar Lake, Jubail Marine Protected Area, Domat Al-Jandal in Al-Jouf, Farasan Islands and Wadi Aljizan.
In accordance with the Kingdom’s wildlife preservation rules, hunters have been warned not to kill endangered species such as the oryx, gazelle, ibex, the Arabian leopard and the ostrich. Hunters are also forbidden to hunt in 16 protected areas in the Kingdom, which include the Empty Quarter and areas close to urban settlements.