ID :
210702
Sun, 10/02/2011 - 11:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/210702
The shortlink copeid
UAE's NARC 500 houbara bustards released in Algeria
Abu Dhabi, Oct 2, 2011 (WAM) - 500 captive-bred houbara bustards were released last week in the wild Algeria by Abu Dhabi-based National Avian Research Centre (NARC).
Present at the release ceremony in Al Abyadh Sidi Al Sheikh in Al Beidh province were Juan Al Khaiili Director of NARC, Dr. Nigel Collar, representative of BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organisations working together for the world's birds and people, officials of the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of hunters societies and wildlife enthusiasts.
Al Khaiili said Algeria is one of the natural habitat for the endangered North African houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulate)which now faces extinction due to over-hunting. "The places were carefully selected to provide the released birds a natural and appropriate diet," he added.
The birds were raised at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) as part of efforts to protect houbara bustards and its plan to increase its population in their natural habitats across Asia and North Africa.
The houbara lives in remote, empty expanses of desert and semi-desert plains and steppes. It is an opportunistic feeder - eating a variety of plants, seeds and berries as well as ants, locusts, spiders and scorpions. Houbara bustards also eat small lizards, mice and the young chicks of some other birds. "Hunting is part of the national heritage of Arab and Gulf countries. A draft agreement on increasing houbara bustard population is being prepared by NARC and BirdLife International," he further said. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
Present at the release ceremony in Al Abyadh Sidi Al Sheikh in Al Beidh province were Juan Al Khaiili Director of NARC, Dr. Nigel Collar, representative of BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organisations working together for the world's birds and people, officials of the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of hunters societies and wildlife enthusiasts.
Al Khaiili said Algeria is one of the natural habitat for the endangered North African houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulate)which now faces extinction due to over-hunting. "The places were carefully selected to provide the released birds a natural and appropriate diet," he added.
The birds were raised at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) as part of efforts to protect houbara bustards and its plan to increase its population in their natural habitats across Asia and North Africa.
The houbara lives in remote, empty expanses of desert and semi-desert plains and steppes. It is an opportunistic feeder - eating a variety of plants, seeds and berries as well as ants, locusts, spiders and scorpions. Houbara bustards also eat small lizards, mice and the young chicks of some other birds. "Hunting is part of the national heritage of Arab and Gulf countries. A draft agreement on increasing houbara bustard population is being prepared by NARC and BirdLife International," he further said. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
