History & Heritage
05.06.2020
AlUla: Arabian gazelles reintroduced in Sharaan Nature Reserve
The Royal Commission for AlUla, the government agency that manages the development of this region dear to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been managing the natural rehabilitation of the region for several months. With this in mind, it has just reintroduced into its original environment the local species of gazelle known scientifically as Gazella Arabica.
The nature reserve is called Sharaan and it is the place that was chosen by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to welcome the return to nature of the Arabian gazelle. For some time now, the RCU has been working hard to recreate a natural environment similar to the AlUla region at its origins, before it was damaged by overgrazing and human activity in general.
A long-term project
With this in mind, the commission has reintroduced several individuals to the reserve, whom it will continue to monitor for their adaptability and ability to survive. This step is part of a larger rehabilitation project, already marked by several successes: the re-establishment of vegetation necessary for the survival and proper development of animal life, the training of qualified personnel (wardens, guides, etc.) but also the sensitization of local populations to respect for nature and, in this particular case, the reintroduction of endangered species, such as the Arabian gazelle.
The widescale eco-rebalancing of #SharaanNatureReserve reveals itself in many different ways. Ecosystems are re-emerging, vibrant and capable of supporting native wildlife once again. Today we can celebrate the birth of a gazelle fawn, but there is so much more to come. pic.twitter.com/Jv9UTBz3De
— الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) June 5, 2020
Varied species
Eventually, the RCU hopes to be able to reintroduce the majestic Arabian leopard, a local big cat on the verge of extinction. This species, classified at the highest level of endangerment, is an integral part of a long-term rescue project in partnership with the NGO Panthera. Recently, you were also informed of the birth of two baby leopards within the framework of the project, which are also destined to one day live in the Sharaan nature reserve.