Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid Royal Reserve Sees Release of Over 30 Endangered Animals

The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA
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Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid Royal Reserve Sees Release of Over 30 Endangered Animals

The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in collaboration with the Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, has released over 30 endangered animals into the King Khalid Royal Reserve, as part of programs for breeding and reintroducing endangered species into their natural habitats, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite, aiming to boost the reserve's biodiversity, restore ecological balance, enhance sustainability, and promote eco-tourism, SPA said.
These national efforts reflect the Kingdom's pioneering efforts in preserving natural resources and pursuing sustainable development through building sustainable ecological models. They also demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global environmental protection and sustainability, SPA added.



Astronaut Brings French Menu in Space

The astronaut and chef held a tasting in Paris to decide the menu, the ESA said 
The astronaut and chef held a tasting in Paris to decide the menu, the ESA said 
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Astronaut Brings French Menu in Space

The astronaut and chef held a tasting in Paris to decide the menu, the ESA said 
The astronaut and chef held a tasting in Paris to decide the menu, the ESA said 

When you think about the food that astronauts eat in space, lobster, haddock and foie gras probably don't spring to mind - but that's exactly what France's next visitor to the International Space Station (ISS) will be dining on.

According to BBC, Astronaut Sophie Adenot has teamed up with award-winning French chef Anne-Sophie Pic to create a menu of gastronomic delights that will travel with Adenot to the ISS next year.

Instead of the usual freeze-dried nutrients that astronauts eat, Adenot, 42, will be choosing from the likes of “Foie gras cream on toasted brioche” and “Lobster bisque with crab and caraway.”

The menu - which the European Space Agency (ESA) has dubbed “a pinch of France in space” - includes four starters, two main courses and two desserts.

Adenot said the dishes, which also include braised beef, and chocolate cream, will not only “delight our palates” but also help her feel connected to Earth, and her home country.

“Her (Pic's) cuisine signature is deeply influenced by the terroir. This is important to me because I grew up in the countryside, and it will remind me of my roots,” she was quoted as saying in an ESA statement.

There are strict rules for food on the ISS - it must be crumb-free, lightweight and keep for at least 24 months, the ESA says.

Therefore, most meals are canned, vacuum packed or freeze-dried, with fresh fruit and vegetables a rare luxury that can only be enjoyed when a spacecraft arrives with new supplies.

But to keep things interesting, boost morale, and help with crew bonding, every tenth or so meal is one prepared especially for each astronaut, with these “bonus meals” often made in partnership with a chef.

Famous for her haute cuisine, Pic, 55, has the most Michelin stars of any female chef in the world - 10.

She says this project is "pushing the boundaries" of gastronomy, as she worked with her team to create special food, while keeping within the technical constraints.

“Cooking for space is an exhilarating challenge,” she was quoted as saying by the ESA.