Once pushed to the brink of extinction, the Houbara bustard has been the focus of conservation efforts in the UAE since the 1970s. Through new initiatives and programmes designed to engage future generations, this nearly extinct species continues to soar

The UAE government takes its role in our mission to help save the planet very seriously. According to Environment Vision 2030, maintaining biodiversity is one of the country’s top priorities – and saving the Houbara bustard is just one way the emirate is winning this battle.

What’s the buzz about the bustard?

The Houbara bustard is a striking, large-bodied bird with long legs and a slender neck. A prey for falcons that is also used in training, Houbara is essential to the art of falconry and an important part of the country’s heritage, history and natural environment.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the father of the UAE, was an avid falconer and conservationist who committed himself to ensuring the bird’s survival when he noticed a decline in its population in the 1970s. He initiated the Abu Dhabi Houbara programme that lives on today as the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC).

Totally tech’d out

The UAE has used more than 2,600 satellite tracking systems to monitor Houbara movements across the globe. This tracking initiative has improved the success rates of the breeding scheme by allowing the birds to be monitored in their natural environment.

This has led to them discovering that the Houbara bustard travels an average of 6,000 kilometres during its migration season and has three different migration paths.

Ahead of the class

IFHC and the Ministry of Education joined forces to add conservation to the UAE’s national curriculum. An outdoor Houbara-themed tent was piloted at Al Huiteen School, where students took part in activities and different grades collaborated to build a real-life Houbara habitat.

“With our new initiatives, we are hoping to engage and motivate students across the Emirates to discover the importance of the Houbara bustard,” explains IFHC’s managing director, Majid Ali Al Mansouri.

To learn more about Houbara conservation, visit: houbarafund.org

By Tamara Clarke