Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Royal Reserve Initiates Live Satellite Tracking For Endangered Turtles

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has initiated a satellite tracking program for hawksbill and green turtles. This includes the first tagging of a pre-nesting, egg-carrying green turtle in the Red Sea. The initiative aims to address regional knowledge gaps and promote cross-border conservation strategies for these endangered species.

The reserve spans 4,000 km² of Red Sea waters, representing 1.8% of Saudi Arabia's marine area. It features a 170 km coastline, the longest managed by a single entity in the Kingdom. This protected corridor links NEOM and Red Sea Global, safeguarding five of the world's seven turtle species.

The reserve's team, led by Dr. Ahmed Mohammed and Dr. Hector Barrios-Garrido, successfully tagged three critically endangered hawksbill turtles and seven green turtles. These tags provide real-time data on their movements, identifying foraging grounds and migratory paths, crucial for protecting nesting sites.

Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, highlighted the critical situation of hawksbill turtles. "Critically endangered hawksbill turtles face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild within our lifetime," he stated. With fewer than 200 breeding-age females left in the Red Sea, their survival hinges on closing knowledge gaps for effective conservation.

The reserve's efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s commitments under international agreements like the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species. By sharing scientific data across the Red Sea region, they aim to strengthen habitat protection and foster regional cooperation.

Dr. Ahmed Mohammed noted that the lightweight tags are designed to operate for at least 12 months. They provide continuous data for analyzing seasonal patterns and developmental habitats while offering insights into global sea turtle research.

Challenges and Threats

Turtles face threats from fishing net entanglement, habitat degradation, and illegal poaching outside protected areas. Although these threats are absent within the reserve's waters, comprehensive management strategies are needed across political boundaries.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves established by royal decree. It is overseen by the Royal Reserves Council chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

This reserve covers 24,500 km² from Harrats' lava plains to the deep Red Sea in the west. It connects NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla while housing projects like Wadi Al Disah and Destination AMAALA under the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Despite recent global reclassification by IUCN, green turtles remain vulnerable regionally. All five marine turtle species in the Red Sea are listed under CMS since Saudi Arabia joined in 1979.

The reserve encompasses 15 distinct ecosystems within just 1% of Saudi Arabia's terrestrial area but holds over half its species diversity. This makes it one of Middle East's most biodiverse protected areas.

The satellite tracking program supports national conservation efforts by providing real-time data essential for identifying critical areas across the Red Sea ecosystem.

With inputs from SPA