Gyps Rueppellii Sighting In King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Marks First Record In Central And Eastern Saudi Arabia
The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority reports that the Gyps rueppellii has been sighted and documented inside the reserve. This is only the third confirmed national record of the species. It is also the first documented presence in the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia, giving the event wide environmental importance.
Officials state that the observation highlights the quality of habitats within King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve. The area now appears to function as a secure refuge for both rare and native wildlife. The record also supports national biodiversity goals linked with Saudi Vision 2030 and long-term ecosystem restoration plans.
The Gyps rueppellii is mainly associated with the African Sahel, where it has suffered heavy declines. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as critically endangered. Studies indicate that more than 90% of its population disappeared across its African range during the past three decades.
Globally, the species faces many pressures that continue to affect survival. Known risks include poisoning from pesticides, electrocution on power lines, and collisions with overhead cables. Further habitat problems arise from urban expansion, land-use change, and the loss of suitable nesting locations near traditional breeding areas.
Specialists also warn about indirect threats to Gyps rueppellii linked with food supply and human activity. The decline of carrion due to new livestock-rearing methods reduces natural feeding opportunities. Other pressures include illegal hunting related to traditional beliefs and climate change impacts along breeding zones and migratory corridors.
Within the Arabian Peninsula, Gyps rueppellii is regarded as extremely rare. In Saudi Arabia, the first documented national record occurred in Aseer Region in 1985. Another record followed in 2018, and a further confirmed sighting took place in AlUla Governorate in September 2025, before the latest observation in the reserve.
The new documentation from central and eastern Saudi Arabia expands this short national record. It adds an important data point for scientists studying movement patterns and habitat preferences of the species. The authority’s monitoring and protection programmes are viewed as key factors that allowed the bird to use the reserve safely.
By hosting Gyps rueppellii, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve strengthens its role in regional conservation work. The sighting supports evidence that targeted protection measures are improving local ecosystem health. It also contributes information of global interest for efforts to conserve critically endangered vultures and maintain biodiversity in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
With inputs from SPA
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