Welcome

Welcome to NWRC website !

The Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) was established in 1986 and is responsible for the conservation and development of wildlife in Saudi Arabia. It fulfills its mandate thanks to the continuous support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz; may God protect him. From its national strategy, the Commission announced fifteen areas for protection, covering about 85,000 Km², which is about 4% of the Kingdom’s land area. In order to breed some particular indigenous species in captivity and then reintroduce them into the wild, the Commission established two research centers: the National Wildlife Research Center in Taif (NWRC) and the King Khaled Wildlife Research Center in Thumamah (KKWRC).

The National Wildlife Research Center was established in 1986. Situated southeast of the city of Taif in the foothills of the Sarawat Mountains, the NWRC is responsible for the captive breeding and the reintroduction of some key wildlife species in Saudi Arabia. These include the Asian houbara bustard, the Arabian oryx and the red-necked ostrich. All of these species have been reintroduced into one or more of the Kingdom’s Protected Areas. In 2008 the Center began a captive breeding of Arabian leopard that, after some initial challenges, is now succeeding. Along with the monitoring of reintroduced populations, the NWRC conducts several research projects, some of which involve international cooperation. The Center is also involved with public awareness programs and we hope that this website will contribute to the promotion of wildlife conservation in the Kingdom.

Beside presenting these activities, the website offers a photo library, which aims to include around one thousand pictures selected from NWRC’s own library, that itself numbers more than one hundred thousands pictures.
For those interested in scientific research, you will be able to access 60% of the 650 scientific papers the Centre has been involved with since its creation. Other articles will be made available in the future.

This website will improve from your general comments, as well as from relevant scientific add-ins.

I wish you an enjoyable and useful visit to the NWRC website and thank you for your support to wildlife conservation.

Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al-Saud

Secretary General, Saudi Wildlife Authority