Riyadh, April 9th, 2025: The first new sand gazelle of the 2025 spring season has been born at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, bringing the total born to 94 since the Reserve’s rewilding program began in 2022.

The sand gazelle, native to Saudi Arabia, is one of the 23 species selected to be returned to its natural habitat as part of the Reserve’s rewilding program.

‘’Every new birth is another step closer to our mission to rewild Arabia’’, said Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Reserve. ‘’We have already reintroduced eleven of the 23 species we are bringing back to the Reserve and we continue to build resilient populations through our growing animal husbandry program.’’

Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with an estimated global wild population of just 3000 individuals remaining, the sand gazelle has historically been threatened by hunting and habitat loss. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, sand gazelle populations are now growing in protected areas and Royal Reserves across Saudi Arabia, including Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve.

About Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve

One of eight Royal Reserves, the 24,500 km² Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the deep Red Sea in the west, connecting NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. It is home to PIF’s Wadi Al Disah project and Red Sea Global’s Destination AMAALA.

The Reserve encompasses 15 distinct ecosystems. At just 1% of the Kingdom’s terrestrial area and 1.8% of its marine area, it boasts over 50% of the Kingdom’s species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East.

The Reserve is committed to restoring and conserving the natural and cultural environment, this includes the reintroduction of 23 historically occurring native species, including the Arabian leopard, cheetah, Arabian oryx and Lappet-faced vulture, as part of a wide-ranging rewilding program.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves established by royal decree and overseen by the Royal Reserves Council chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The Reserves programme as integrated with Saudi Arabia’s wider sustainability and conservation programs, including the Saudi Green and Middle East Green Initiatives.