Saudi wildlife centre releases endangered mountain goats in Al Baha

The Baljurashi national park will be the new home for the species

Twenty endangered mountain goats – the Nubian ibex 'Capra nubiana' – are released into the wild in Al Shukran Park, in Al Baha region, western Saudi Arabia.

The initiative by the region’s governor, Prince Hussam bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz, is aimed at raising environmental awareness, enhancing biodiversity and protecting endangered species. SPA

Al Shukran, near Baljurashi, is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest national parks and includes rugged mountain terrain, an ideal habitat for the animals. SPA

Nubian ibexes stand 65 centimetres to 75 centimetres tall at the shoulder and weigh about 50 kilograms. The male’s horns can grow to an impressive 1.2 metres long. SPA

As well as Saudi Arabia, the Nubian ibex's range includes Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Sudan and Yemen. Fewer than 10,000 remain in the wild, due to hunting, competition with livestock and loss of habitat. SPA

Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Wildlife Development released 20 mountain goats into the Al Shukran Park of Baljurashi, in western Al Baha region.

The initiative by the region's governor, Prince Hussam bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz, is aimed at raising environmental awareness, enhancing the region's biodiversity and protecting the kingdom's endangered animal species.
The park is one of the country's largest and includes rugged mountain terrain, an ideal habitat for the goats.

The park is surrounded by mountains that have been home to ibex in the past, Prince Hussam said.

Visitors will be able to watch the goats from afar.

Also, there will be no danger to deer that roam beyond the park’s perimeters as public roads have been blocked, the prince said.

The Ministry of Transport has also placed road signs in areas where the endangered animals are likely to cross.

The release of the goats was attended by the region’s undersecretary, Abdul Moneim Al Shehri, the chief executive of the National Centre for the Development of Wildlife, Dr Muhammad Qurban, and the director of the ministry's branch in the region, Fahd Al Zahrani.