In AlUla an ambitious programme to reintroduce native species into the wild is underway

November in the Arabian desert. In AlUla, an area of extraordinary natural beauty and human heritage in north west Saudi Arabia, they are preparing for their biggest wildlife release yet. The AlUla wildlife and natural heritage conservation teams have been releasing ibex, oryx and gazelles, as well as ostrich into their 22,500 square kilometres of canyons, ravines, wadis, valleys and open desert. Dr Stephen Browne, Wildlife and Natural Heritage Executive Director at The Royal Commission for AlUla, says “there is a good indication they have survived, bred and held their own.” The offspring of the released animals are now breeding themselves. For the increasing numbers of visitors looking to go on safari in this ancient and majestic land, the sight of the Arab world’s most emblematic species in the wild is becoming a real prospect again.