Saudi Gazette report
TABUK — The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has marked a major milestone in its rewilding program with the reintroduction of the critically endangered red-necked ostrich, historically known as the “camel bird,” as a biological replacement for the extinct Arabian ostrich after an absence of nearly a century.

Once widespread across the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabian ostrich became extinct in the early 20th century due to overhunting and habitat loss.

The red-necked ostrich, its closest surviving genetic relative, was selected for reintroduction because of its biological similarity and its ability to thrive in arid desert environments.

An initial founder group of five red-necked ostriches has been released into the reserve under a board-approved rewilding program aimed at restoring historical biodiversity across the reserve’s 24,500-square-kilometer terrestrial and marine landscape.

The ostrich becomes the 12th of 23 historically native species being reintroduced as part of the reserve’s long-term ecosystem restoration strategy.

Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, said the return of the species represents a critical step in restoring desert ecosystems shaped by large grazing and browsing animals.

“The return of ‘camel birds’ to their historic rangelands supports the restoration of desert ecosystems shaped historically by large grazing and browsing species,” Zaloumis said.

“Ecosystems can only be considered fully restored when lost species, or their ecological equivalents, are returned. This is why we consider the return of the red-necked ostrich a landmark step toward the reserve’s restoration and the establishment of a founder population for Saudi Arabia’s national breeding and restoration programs.”

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the National Center for Wildlife and other royal reserves, supporting Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative’s targets to enhance biodiversity and protect 30 percent of the Kingdom’s land and sea by 2030.

Archaeological and historical evidence underscores the ostrich’s deep roots in the region.

Ancient sandstone petroglyphs found within the reserve depict ostrich herds and hunting scenes, providing valuable insights that help guide the reserve’s restoration strategy.

Today, wild red-necked ostriches remain critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals surviving in parts of Africa’s Sahel. As ecosystem engineers, ostriches play a vital role in seed dispersal, insect control, and maintaining healthy rangelands.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve spans diverse ecosystems ranging from volcanic lava fields to the Red Sea coastline and supports more than half of Saudi Arabia’s recorded species, despite covering just over one percent of the Kingdom’s total land area.