Saudi Arabia Launches First Guide for Vulture Feeding

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) in Riyadh has launched Saudi Arabia's first internationally accredited national guide for vulture feeding stations, set to be used in 2026 to protect resident and migratory vultures across the Kingdom's arid landscapes.

Developed in cooperation with five specialized international organizations, the guide has been formally accredited through the platform of the Convention on Migratory Species as a reference for arid regions. It offers a comprehensive technical framework for planning, establishing, and managing vulture feeding stations, often known as "vulture restaurants," covering site selection, safe food sourcing, operating procedures, and the monitoring of vulture numbers and behavior.

Why it matters

The guide aims to reduce poisoning risks from toxins, harmful veterinary drugs, lead, and other pollutants, while supporting the survival and reproduction of vultures in their natural habitats. Officials describe feeding stations as a supplementary conservation tool rather than a replacement for wider habitat and threat management.

Among the operational best practices, the guide recommends using only carcasses confirmed free of poisons and veterinary drugs, opening large carcasses near the abdomen for immediate access, and providing food consistently and in the early morning to limit use by mammalian scavengers before vultures arrive. It also calls for rotating carcass positions to maintain hygiene, examining livestock before use, and clearly labeling transport containers that the food is not for human consumption.

The guide encourages establishing networks of feeding stations near large Griffon vulture colonies, suggesting three or more stations for colonies exceeding 20 vultures. Tailored to Saudi Arabia's desert and semi-desert conditions, the document blends global best practices with local environmental and logistical realities, reinforcing the Kingdom's growing focus on wildlife protection.

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