Half a million of these birds have been released into the wild to boost sustainability
Published: September 08, 2024 1
Abu Dhabi: The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), a leader in pre-emptive species conservation, has announced a total production of 888,256 houbara bustards at its breeding and research centres in Abu Dhabi, Morocco and Kazakhstan since the inception of its conservation programmes.
Under the leadership and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, IFHC has effectively preserved and released 534,122 birds to rebalance wild houbara populations across their international range of distribution in Asia and North Africa, Abdulla Ghurair Al Qubaisi, Director General of IFHC, said.
He said, “Our success is inspired by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to preserve our environmental and cultural heritage for future generations. This commitment reflects the vision of our Father of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who recognised the decline of houbara populations and established the Abu Dhabi Houbara Conservation Programme. This programme employs a holistic global approach that combines captive breeding and habitat protection.”
Over the five decades, the conservation programme has built a comprehensive understanding of the houbara. This includes its ecology, genetics, ecological behaviour, distribution, breeding areas and migration routes.
“We have also developed standard techniques and protocols for captive breeding using artificial insemination and incubation, and the propagation of breeding birds separately from release birds to boost wild populations. The success story of the houbara is part of a broader narrative of successful conservation efforts in Abu Dhabi, which has managed to protect and restore various threatened species in the desert habitat, including the oryx, Arabian tahr, dugongs, and sea turtles,” the official said.
Acording to him, “The houbara conservation initiative is a key indicator of the protection of an integrated ecosystem in the desert and remote areas, where local communities, with their rich and ancient cultures and traditions, play a crucial role.”
IFHC operates one of the largest conservation programmes globally, building on a legacy that stretches back nearly 50 years, beginning with Al Ain Zoo’s initial efforts in houbara captive breeding and propagation to preserve their populations in the wild in 1977.
areas, where local communities, with their rich and ancient cultures and traditions, play a crucial role.”
IFHC operates one of the largest conservation programmes globally, building on a legacy that stretches back nearly 50 years, beginning with Al Ain Zoo’s initial efforts in houbara captive breeding and propagation to preserve their populations in the wild in 1977.
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