Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Royal Reserve Celebrates World Vulture Awareness Day With Rare Griffon Vulture Finding

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority announces the rare discovery of three breeding colonies of Eurasian Griffon vultures on World Vulture Awareness Day. The Griffon vulture is listed as Endangered in the Middle East.

The Griffon vulture and vultures globally are facing a serious conservation crisis. Acting as nature’s clean-up crew, vultures are an essential part of maintaining healthy ecosystems and preventing disease outbreaks.

Andrew Zaloumis, CEO at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority, stated: “The endangered Griffon vulture is an uncommon breeding resident in Saudi Arabia. Using drones four active nests with adults incubating eggs and raising chicks have been discovered by Reserve scientists and are being closely monitored” 

“Griffon vultures are a significant indicator of the Reserve’s improving environmental health. These breeding colonies are a testament to the Reserve’s conservation work and role as a sanctuary for Saudi Arabia’s natural heritage.”

Under the Reserve’s recently launched Integrated Development Management Plan vulture breeding colonies are afforded the highest level of protection.

The 24,500 km² Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the deep Red Sea in the west, and is home to 15 distinct ecosystems and over 50% of the Kingdom’s species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East.

Griffon vulture individuals have previously been recorded roosting throughout the Reserve’s mountain ranges, however this is the first time breeding colonies with nesting sites have been confirmed. Four active nestsin three separate breeding colonies with adults incubating eggs and chicks approximately two – three months of age were discovered in the sand-stone mountains of the Jabel Qaraqir section of the Reserve.A further 37 potential nesting sites are also being monitored.

In 2023, two Griffon vultures were tagged and released into the Reserve in a joint initiative with the National Centre for Wildlife. Griffon Vultures coexist with other predators such as wolves and hyenas who play an essential role for vultures to be able to feed. The absence of predators and the widespread poisoning of vultures in many parts of the world results in few reaching breeding maturity.Building awareness of this wonder of nature that is responsible for supporting ecosystems health and keeping diseases in check is important for the conservation of the species.The Reserve’s restoration and rewilding initiative is reestablishing safe vulture habitats, reintroducing prey species and the recently discovered nests will continue to be monitored. At a local level this being support by the Reserve-wide schools education and community outreach programmes.