Saudi Arabia’s Rewilding Arabia initiative has achieved a major milestone with the return of the endangered camel bird to the country’s deserts after nearly 100 years. Once admired by Arab poets and Roman scholars, the species had seen a sharp decline over the past decades and was believed to have gone extinct in the region. The red-necked ostrich, also known as the camel bird, has now been reintroduced as part of a rewilding programme by the Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve.
Why the Red-Necked Ostrich was chosen
According to Arab News, the bird serves as a biological replacement for the extinct Arabian (Syrian) ostrich, which disappeared in the early 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. The red-necked ostrich is the closest genetic relative of the Arabian ostrich and was selected for its ability to survive harsh desert conditions and restore its natural ecological role in Saudi Arabia’s desert ecosystem.
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Five birds released under rewilding programme
As part of the board-approved rewilding plan, five red-necked ostriches were released into the reserve. The goal of this initiative is to restore historic levels of biodiversity across the reserve’s 24,500 sq km land and marine ecosystems. The ostrich is the 12th species to be reintroduced out of 23 native species planned under the reserve’s long-term ecosystem restoration strategy.
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Symbolic and transformative step
Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, described the reintroduction as both symbolic and transformative for conservation efforts. He said bringing back such an iconic desert species after a century carries deep ecological and cultural importance. The reserve had achieved a similar success in 2024 with the return of the Persian onager after 100 years.
Growing hope for desert recovery
Zaloumis added that the return of the ostrich marks another major conservation success and shows that Saudi Arabia’s desert ecosystems are slowly recovering. Both species had been absent from the reserve for generations, and their return also represents a revival of cultural heritage.
Part of vision 2030 and Saudi green initiative
The project is being carried out in partnership with the National Center for Wildlife and the Royal Reserve authorities. It is aligned with Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, which aim to boost biodiversity, restore damaged ecosystems, and protect 30% of the Kingdom’s land and seas by 2030.