Ornithological research at the 
National Wildlife Research Center, 
Taif, Saudi Arabia 
Stephen F Newton 
Introduction 
The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Taif, is an integral part 
of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development 
(NCWCD), based in Riyadh. NWRC was established in winter 1985/86, 
primarily as a Houbara Chlamydotis undulata captive breeding unit. The 
remit of the Center was soon expanded to include breeding programmes 
of Arabian Oryx, Ostrich, Ibex and gazelles. The current remit of NWRC 
remains focused on the captive breeding of these species, but the task of 
management of protected areas and reintroduction is now also an 
integral part of its programme. 
The Center is situated on the interior plateau at 1400m above sea level, 
just inland of the northern Asir mountains, approximately 200km from 
Jeddah and the Red Sea coast, and 800km from Riyadh. During summer 
1991, the Center was expanded considerably. A new Field Research 
Department was created to monitor wildlife in protected areas, to 
undertake pre- and post-release surveys of introduced species and to 
initiate and support other NCWCD projects and surveys on endangered 
or poorly known species and habitats outwith the protected area network 
in the Kingdom. 
NWRC, Taif 
A large breeding flock (200+ birds) of Houbara of both the North African 
subspecies Chlamydotis undulata undulata and the Asian subspecies C 
macqtieenii are maintained for research (former) and reintroduction 
purposes (latter). The species is notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. 
Only 121 chicks were reared in three breeding seasons (1989-91). After 
considerable research and investment in artificial insemination and 
artificial incubation and using the technique of egg-pulling, around 150 
chicks were reared from 60 laying females in 1992. This level of production 
enables the breeding stock to be maintained at current levels and frees 
birds for reintroduction experiments. A small number of Red-necked 
Ostriches Struthio camelus is maintained at the Center and in the near 
future the breeding stock will be increased and a reintroduction 
programme will be started. 
1 
RECYCLED PAPER 
