Imam Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Releases 56 Endangered Animals for Ecological Restoration

The release included ten Arabian oryx, 30 Arabian sand gazelles, six mountain gazelles, and ten Houbara bustards. SPA
The release included ten Arabian oryx, 30 Arabian sand gazelles, six mountain gazelles, and ten Houbara bustards. SPA
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Imam Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Releases 56 Endangered Animals for Ecological Restoration

The release included ten Arabian oryx, 30 Arabian sand gazelles, six mountain gazelles, and ten Houbara bustards. SPA
The release included ten Arabian oryx, 30 Arabian sand gazelles, six mountain gazelles, and ten Houbara bustards. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, in collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife, has released a variety of animals into the King Khalid Royal Reserve. The release included ten Arabian oryx, 30 Arabian sand gazelles, six mountain gazelles, and ten Houbara bustards.
The authority CEO, Dr. Talal AlHarigi, said this initiative aims to reintroduce endangered animals into their natural habitats and restore environmental balance for ecological sustainability.

He added that the released animals have been fitted with tracking collars powered by solar energy. These collars enable specialists to monitor their movements, study their behavior and adaptation to the natural environment, and analyze environmental factors and threats using modern technologies.

AlHarigi emphasized that the authority's ongoing efforts are focused on restoring and sustaining the environment, increasing vegetation cover, and promoting environmental balance aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
National Center for Wildlife CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban stated that the center is actively working to increase the population of endangered animals and ensure their localization in their natural habitats, adhering to the highest global standards and practices. The center collaborates with international and local experts as part of its continuous efforts to protect ecosystems, restore biodiversity, and foster environmental balance.



Extreme Fire Danger Grips Australia’s Southeast Amid Heatwave 

Sydney residents experience a heatwave at Dee Why in Sydney, Australia, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
Sydney residents experience a heatwave at Dee Why in Sydney, Australia, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
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Extreme Fire Danger Grips Australia’s Southeast Amid Heatwave 

Sydney residents experience a heatwave at Dee Why in Sydney, Australia, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
Sydney residents experience a heatwave at Dee Why in Sydney, Australia, 27 January 2025. (EPA)

Australia's southeast sweltered in a heatwave on Monday, raising the bushfire risk and prompting authorities to issue fire bans for several parts of Victoria state.

The extreme temperatures brought back memories of the catastrophic 2019-2020 "Black Summer" that saw fires destroy an area the size of Türkiye, killing 33 people and billions of animals.

On Monday, the nation's weather forecaster warned that the temperature could reach 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in Victoria's capital Melbourne, more than 14 C above the city's mean maximum temperature for January.

Authorities rated the fire danger at extreme, the second-highest danger rating, in five Victorian regions on Monday.

Dean Narramore, senior meteorologist at the forecaster, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that the hot and windy conditions could spark "big fires" ahead of a cool change due in Victoria later on Sunday.

Elsewhere, the states of New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory were under heatwave alerts on Monday, the forecaster said on its website.

In New South Wales, Australia's most-populous state, Narramore said "low to severe heatwave conditions" were expected on Monday, forecasting the heatwave to intensify there on Tuesday.