40 rare animals seized

JEDDAH: Forty rare animals, including leopards and panthers, were seized from illegal dealers over the past three years, according to the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA).

Ahmed Al-Bouq, director-general of the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Center for Wildlife Research and spokesman for the SWA, said the animals were taken from traffickers in the southwest of the country, according to a report in a local publication.
“The system prevents trafficking in these endangered species and punishes perpetrators with fines of up to SR10,000. The fines are doubled for repeat offenses.” The Ministry of Interior is involved in all operations, he said.
Al-Bouq said resettlement of the Arabian Oryx in Mahazat Al-Sayd Reserve began with 82 animals, which have now increased to 500 through natural breeding. Three hundred ostriches introduced in 1978 now stand at 700.
Other breeding programs have seen the inclusion of 50 Mountain Gazelles and more than 250 Houbara birds. There is also a hare program that began in 2015, with 13 unique rabbits also being bred.
Al-Bouq said the SWA has two research centers — the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Center for Research on Wildlife in Taif and the King Khalid Wildlife Research Center in Thumama. There is also a breeding center, the Prince Mohammed Al-Sudairy Center in Qassim.
He said the SWA is only interested in breeding animals found in the Arabian Peninsula. In Taif, there are five programs for breeding and resettlement of endangered animals including bustards, red neck ostriches, Arabian Oryx, tigers and hares.
There are 35 nature reserves in the Kingdom over an area of 87,000 square kilometers. Four are for the resettlement of rare and endangered animals including the Muhaza Al-Sayed Reserve, east of Taif over 2,553 square kilometers.
There are also the Saja and Umm Al-Romth reserves over 6,528 square kilometers, the Al-Woull reserve over 1,840 square kilometers, and Orouq Reserve over 12,787 square kilometers. He said the most resettlement activity takes place in the Muhaza Al-Sayed reserve, where there are now 10 Arabian tigers after having only two in 2010.
He said there is a new visitor’s center at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Center for Wildlife Research in Taif, which has many education presentations including models of endangered species, for students.
He said there are 700 staff members dedicated to fighting illegal fishing in protected areas in the country, with operations supported by the Ministry of Interior.