often being seen in cultivated areas. Unfortunately the situation is not 
as favourable for the Houbara as villagers and herdsmen all related 
the same story of a drastic decline in numbers since the region became 
permanently inhabited. The following notes from the interviews give 
some insight into the reasons for the decline of the species in Syria, its 
habits in this region and the attitudes of local people to wildlife (inter- 
viewees comments are paraphrased and given in quotation marks). 
Sheep herder, Al Bab area, 36 km north-east of Aleppo 
"Not seen in this area since I was a youth [estimated age was 65]. ..the problem 
is lack of water". Apparently it is a common complaint amongst farmers and 
herders that it does not rain as much now as in previous years. "The birds 
arrived in winter and were seen in one's and two's throughout the season. No 
idea where they went in summer. Birds were not hunted. I don't care what 
they do in the Gulf, these birds are nice to look at". 
Sheep herder, AI Bab area, 39 km north-east of Aleppo 
"Birds arrived in winter. Climate has now become too arid (for Houbara). No 
birds have been seen in the area since habitation increased over 15 years ago. 
The birds were seen three or four at a time and stayed in the raddish fields. 
They were hunted by people from Damascus". 
Sheep herder, 118 km east-north-east of Aleppo 
"Saw a few four to five years ago in the steppe north of Al-Raqqah. They lay 
eggs at this time of year (May). The birds were resident all year and seen in 
small groups. They ate grass and grain from the fields. The numbers 
decreased because too many people moved into the area". 
Kurdish villager, 143 km east-north-east of Aleppo 
"Saw one a long time ago north of Al-Raqqah. The wildlife has disappeared 
since people moved into the area". 
Sheep herder, north of Al-Raqqah 
"Never seen a bustard". 
Villager on road to Rassafah, south of Al-Raqqah 
"Last saw a Houbara 15 years ago. The birds were resident in the area and 
bred there. The birds ate an unnamed herb {Chenopodacaea). Birds have disap- 
peared due to the increase in habitation. The locals did not hunt the bird, but 
there have been foreigners hunting in the area". 
Bedu family, 5 km north of Rassafah 
"Saw one on the steppe to the south four to five years ago. The birds were 
numerous 40 to 50 years ago. Grazing forced most of them out and hunting 
19 
