In a landmark conservation effort, the red-necked ostrich has returned to the Arabian Peninsula after disappearing from the wild there nearly a century ago. The reintroduction marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious rewilding initiative aimed at restoring native megafauna to vast, sparsely inhabited desert landscapes.
The critically endangered bird, historically known as the “camel bird,” was released into the six-million-acre Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, Saudi Arabia’s third-largest protected area. Once celebrated in Arab poetry and noted by Roman scholars, the ostrich had been extinct in the region for approximately 100 years.
Part of a Broader Rewilding Vision
The return of the ostrich is part of the long-term “ReWild Arabia” program, which seeks to reintroduce 23 native species that once roamed the peninsula. With this latest release, 12 species have now been successfully reintroduced.
The red-necked ostrich was selected because it is the closest living relative of the extinct Arabian, or Syrian, ostrich and is well adapted to surviving in harsh desert conditions. A small founding group of five birds has been released into the reserve, where conservationists hope they will establish a stable breeding population.
The broader rewilding project also includes efforts to restore iconic species such as leopards, cheetahs, and the Arabian oryx. In 2024, the reserve marked another milestone by reintroducing the Persian onager, or Asiatic wild ass, ending its 100-year absence from the area.
“Returning such an iconic desert species after nearly a century carries deep emotional, ecological, and cultural significance,” said Andrew Zaloumis, Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, in remarks to Arab News.
“Like the onager, the ostrich was revered by Arab poets and symbolized strength, endurance, and speed. As a keystone species, its return is essential to restoring full ecosystem functionality, stability, and ecological balance,” he added.
Safe Haven for a Rare Species
Globally, only about 1,000 red-necked ostriches also known as the North African ostrich remain in the wild, primarily across Africa’s Sahel region. Ongoing instability and habitat pressures in parts of their native range have contributed to their critically endangered status.
Saudi Arabia’s remote desert interior offers a comparatively secure environment, with minimal human settlement and low risk of poaching. Conservationists hope the protected reserve will allow the species to recover and expand its numbers.
In exchange, the ostriches are expected to play an important ecological role. Their wide-ranging, nomadic movements make them highly effective seed dispersers, helping regenerate plant life across arid landscapes.
“Their nomadic movements across large distances make them highly effective seed dispersers, transporting seeds far from parent plants and increasing plant regeneration, connectivity and genetic diversity,” Zaloumis explained.
In addition, their foraging behavior contributes to nutrient cycling by disturbing vegetation, aerating soils, and flushing out insects that benefit other species.
The reintroduction also carries symbolic weight. Thousands of prehistoric rock carvings across Arabia depict ostriches alongside other wildlife that once inhabited the region. These ancient images serve as reminders of a richer ecological past that conservationists are now working to restore.
By bringing back species absent for generations, reserve managers aim not only to rebuild ecosystems but also to reconnect modern society with the peninsula’s natural and cultural heritage.
The return of the world’s largest bird to Arabian sands represents both a conservation achievement and a hopeful step toward restoring ecological balance in one of the planet’s most dramatic landscapes.