ABU DHABI // A flock of 20 houbara bustards has been introduced to the Sir Bani Yas Island nature reserve.
The species of bird is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
It is hoped the programme, which was organised by the Department of Presidential Affairs, the Sir Bani Yas conservation team and Barari Forest Management, will lead to a successful breeding colony.
Malik Rapaie, wildlife manager for the forest management company, said the birds have been placed in well-designed areas where their survival skills can be nurtured.
The flock will then be released into the island’s Arabian Wildlife Park to establish breeding grounds.
“The birds are being monitored by wildlife biologists and veterinarians from the Barari conservation team to assess their adaptation to the island’s climate,” he said.
Marius Prinsloo, general manager of Sir Bani Yas corporate operations, said: “We hope the birds will begin to breed, which would be a great achievement for this important project.”
Houbara bustards can be found in desert and semi-desert regions in places such as Russia, the Middle East, North Africa and several Asian countries.
They are prized as a quarry for falconers, and hunting, poaching and loss of habitat has greatly reduced their numbers.
They can be identified by their mottled brown top and white underside, with black stripes along their neck. The sexes look similar, but the female is smaller and greyer. The species is omnivorous, eating seeds, insects and other small creatures.
Sir Bani Yas, an 87-square-kilometre island located off the coast of Abu Dhabi, was developed into a wildlife reserve and is home to more than 13,000 animals and birds.
The free-roaming wildlife, which includes oryx, gazelle, deer, ostrich, giraffe and cheetah, can be found in the Arabian Wildlife Park.
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
