Across the expanses of Saudi reserves, the red-necked ostrich is once again finding its voice of the desert. After an absence of nearly a century, these large birds, known in ancient times as "camel birds," are returning to their historical ranges thanks to the coordinated efforts of the National Center for Wildlife and the royal reserves.
The reintroduction program began with the release of five individuals in December 2025 in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Reserve. The North African subspecies became a biological replacement for the extinct Arabian ostrich, which disappeared due to hunting and habitat loss. Since then, breeding successes have been recorded in several regions: in Rawdat Khuraim (the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Reserve), an increase in the number of chicks has been noted; in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Reserve, seven chicks hatched already in the first quarter of 2026; and in the NEOM Reserve, 27 chicks have adapted.
Red-necked ostriches play a key role in the ecosystem: they help disperse seeds, control insect populations, and maintain the health of pastures for other species. Their return helps restore food chains and the structure of desert communities, where large herbivores and omnivorous birds have historically shaped the landscape.
The efforts are coordinated with partners — Aramco, NEOM, and the Royal Commission for AlUla — and fit within the framework of "Vision 2030" and the Saudi Green Initiative. Specialists combine natural nesting with controlled incubation, aiming to raise the rate of successful chick hatching above 30 percent before gradual release into the wild.
Such projects demonstrate how the targeted return of keystone species can trigger a chain reaction of restoration across entire ecosystems in arid climates.
