Saudi Arabia launches first internationally accredited guide for vulture feeding stations

RIYADH — The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has unveiled Saudi Arabia’s inaugural internationally accredited national guide for vulture feeding stations, with the primary goal of safeguarding both resident and migratory vultures. This guide also seeks to mitigate the peril of poisoning, a major threat to the survival and population stability of these birds.

Co-developed in collaboration with five globally recognized organizations, the guide incorporates international best practices and local environmental expertise specific to Saudi Arabia’s desert climate. The guide outlines a thorough framework for the creation and administration of feeding stations, referred to as “vulture restaurants,” which supply vultures with a safe and regulated food supply.

The stations aim to minimize vultures' exposure to toxins, harmful veterinary drugs, and other pollutants, thereby supporting their survival and reproduction in their natural environments. They will also serve as reliable feeding sites for migratory vultures en route to other destinations during seasonal migration periods. The guide also outlines the technical and operational prerequisites for these stations, including site selection, provision of safe food sources, operational protocols, and the surveillance and documentation of vulture population dynamics.

These provisions will enable the evaluation of the stations' impact and bolster their role as a valuable conservation instrument.