Saudi Arabia: King Salman Royal Reserve Records Birth of Nubian Ibex

The authority noted that the reproduction of animals within the reserve reflects the quality and suitability of its natural habitats for wildlife. SPA
The authority noted that the reproduction of animals within the reserve reflects the quality and suitability of its natural habitats for wildlife. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: King Salman Royal Reserve Records Birth of Nubian Ibex

The authority noted that the reproduction of animals within the reserve reflects the quality and suitability of its natural habitats for wildlife. SPA
The authority noted that the reproduction of animals within the reserve reflects the quality and suitability of its natural habitats for wildlife. SPA

The field team at the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve recorded the birth of a Nubian ibex in March.

The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority stated that over the past period, more than 81 mountain ibexes have been reintroduced across various areas of the reserve. This effort aligns with its commitment to protecting wildlife and providing a thriving environment for their growth and reproduction.
The authority noted that the reproduction of animals within the reserve reflects the quality and suitability of its natural habitats for wildlife. It also highlights its continuous commitment to conserving and protecting endangered species.

The reserve has recorded over 120 births of mammals, including the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, Nubian ibex, and Arabian gazelle across its designated areas.



Greece Deploys Record Firefighters and More Drones for Wildfire Season

Firefighters fly a drone during the "Through Fire 2025" drill in Lavrio, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens, Greece, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Firefighters fly a drone during the "Through Fire 2025" drill in Lavrio, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens, Greece, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
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Greece Deploys Record Firefighters and More Drones for Wildfire Season

Firefighters fly a drone during the "Through Fire 2025" drill in Lavrio, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens, Greece, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Firefighters fly a drone during the "Through Fire 2025" drill in Lavrio, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens, Greece, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greece is deploying a record number of firefighters and nearly doubling its drone fleet this summer to address growing wildfire risks driven by climate change, officials said Thursday.

Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis said 18,000 permanent and seasonal personnel, supported by thousands of volunteers, would be mobilized as wildfire damage has increased steadily over the past two decades.

“It is clear that the conditions this year will be particularly difficult,” Kefalogiannis told reporters after attending a firefighting exercise south of Athens.

Rising average temperatures and low rainfall have significantly worsened conditions in recent years.

Greek Fire Chief Lt. Gen. Theodoros Vagias told The Associated Press that additional elite firefighting units would be deployed to high-risk areas during the May 1–Oct. 31 fire season.

“The climate crisis is here to stay, and we must be more effective in surveillance, preparedness, and how we mobilize our resources,” Vagias said.

Wildfire damage surged to more than 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) in 2021 and 1,745 square kilometers (675 square miles) in 2023 — roughly three times the 2011–2020 average — according to data from the European Union’s Forest Fire Information System.

Firefighters held an exercise Thursday to test Greece’s evolving wildfire response, which increasingly relies on advanced technologies such as drone surveillance and mobile command centers.

Fire planes skimmed treetops, releasing plumes of water in coordinated low-altitude drops, as commanders on the ground huddled over tablets streaming real-time drone footage. The coast guard and armed forces took part in a drill simulating the evacuation of a children’s summer camp threatened by fires on multiple fronts.

Officials said the number of firefighting personnel has increased by roughly 20% over the past two years, while the fleet of fire-surveillance drones has grown to 82, up from 45.

Around 300 firefighters from the Czech Republic, France, Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria are being sent to Greece under a European Union prepositioning program, officials said.