Saudi Arabia is planning to establish three vulture feeding stations during 2026 as part of its efforts to protect both resident and migratory vulture populations within the Kingdom. This initiative accompanies the release of the first national guide on “vulture restaurants,” facilities that provide supplementary food in a controlled and safe environment. The guide, developed by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) in collaboration with international conservation groups, aims to standardize practices for feeding vultures while minimizing risks associated with poisoning and contamination.
The guide, published in both Arabic and English in August, was created with input from the IUCN Vulture Specialist Group, SAVE, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the Raptors Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). It outlines detailed standards regarding food safety, site selection for feeding stations, and ongoing monitoring protocols. A key objective is to reduce vultures’ exposure to poisoned or contaminated carcasses, a significant contributor to global vulture mortality. The NCW highlighted that poisoned baits set for predators sometimes end up affecting vultures feeding on the same carcasses, thereby amplifying the risk to multiple birds.
The guide requires that any carcasses used at feeding sites undergo veterinary verification to establish the cause of death. Animals that died of unknown causes, poisoning, infectious diseases, or roadkill are excluded to safeguard the health of the birds. According to the NCW, identifying the cause of death and potential toxic agents requires specialist analysis, underscoring the need for rigorous screening.
Saudi Arabia is home to several vulture species, including lappet-faced, Egyptian, griffon, cinereous, and bearded vultures. Griffon, lappet-faced, and Egyptian vultures breed within the Kingdom, while cinereous vultures are winter visitors. The bearded vulture, increasingly rare in the region, has not been recently confirmed breeding in Saudi Arabia. The country’s geographic location along important migratory routes linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and southern Arabia further elevates its role in vulture conservation.
Dr. Hany Tatwany, a conservationist involved with the project, emphasized the ecological significance of vultures, citing their critical role in maintaining ecosystem health and preventing disease spread. The NCW also underscored the transboundary nature of vulture conservation, stating that protecting these birds requires cooperation among countries along their migration corridors since vultures routinely cross national borders.
The feeding stations are intended to supplement natural food sources without fostering dependency, with continuous monitoring planned to evaluate their effectiveness. Through these measures, Saudi Arabia aims to contribute to the global effort to curb the decline of vulture populations, which remain among the world’s most endangered bird species.