International Fund for Houbara Conservation

International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) is a global organisation dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Houbara bustard, a vulnerable bird of northern Africa and Southeast Asia. The Fund oversees a network of affiliated global Houbara bustard conservation projects and Houbara captive breeding programmes, as the Houbara bustard is significant to Arabian heritage and culture. It promotes sustainable practices, particularly in relation to falconry.

History

Migratory and resident populations of Houbara bustard have long existed on the Arabian Peninsula, where for centuries they played an important role in the survival of the indigenous people who lived in the harsh desert climate. Owing to the practice of hunting with falcons, the Houbara served as an important source of Sustenance for these desert-dwellers. Today, this ancient practice dates back some several thousand years, and has thus transformed the Houbara bustard into an important symbol of Arabian heritage and culture.

With the economic modernisation of the United Arab Emirates, an abundant supply of food reached its shores, quickly diminishing the need for hunting Houbara. Nevertheless, several factors continue to threaten its existence. During the first half of the 20th century, numbers declined at an alarming rate owing to a combination of factors including urban development, human intrusion, poaching and unregulated hunting.

The late President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in response to this alarming development, believed that the survival of the Houbara was essential for future generations, therefore he established the first captive breeding programme for the Houbara in the late seventies. Designed to reinstate the close-to-extinct regional population of the Houbara, the seeds of the IFHC were sown.

Today, the IFHC continues the work of the late President, and has established a global and holistic conservation programme for the Houbara bustard. At its heart is the breeding and release programme, which is supported by the Fund’s work in the fields of education, ecological research, and sustainable community development to reinstate a healthy and sustainable population of Houbara.

Governing Board

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces

Chairman of IFHC Board

His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi

Deputy Chairman of IFHC Board

His Highness Sheikh Theyab Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Member of IFHC Board

His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili

Member of IFHC Board

His Excellency Majid Ali Al Mansouri

Member and Rapporteur of IFHC

His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Khalaf Al Qubaisi

Member of IFHC Board

Jawaan Awaidha Al Khaili

Member of IFHC Board

Captive Breeding

Both a falconer and conservationist, the late President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan committed himself to ensuring the future survival of the Houbara, when in the 1970s he noticed numbers in the wild were in decline due to poaching, unregulated hunting and urbanisation. In turn he established a breeding programme for the species at Al Ain Zoo in Abu Dhabi with the first chick hatching in 1982.

The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) was established in 2006 in Abu Dhabi to continue the conservation legacy of the late President. Today the Fund is responsible for a global network of sustainable initiatives aimed at reinstating Houbara bustard numbers worldwide. It achieves this through captive breeding and release programmes.

The IFHC manages a network of dedicated research and breeding centres across the global distribution range of the Houbara, from which it breeds two species of Houbara bustard – the North African Houbara and the Asian Houbara (the latter including migrant and resident populations which are managed separately), in order to restore and establish sustainable wild populations of Houbara bustard.

The first years of the breeding programme involved education initiatives to understand the behaviour of the targeted Houbara bustard population so it could be bred in captivity. Breeding Houbara in captivity is a long and complex process. Only a complete artificial reproduction process can contribute to a significant captive production.

The IFHC has developed all the techniques for the captive breeding of the Houbara bustard. Two different groups of birds must be produced: birds that will be released and birds that will reinforce the breeding stock. Objectives and constraints for these two populations are totally different and specific breeding techniques for each group have been developed. The IFHC is responsible for ensuring the preservation of the genetic diversity of both populations.

The IFHC currently manages programmes at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) in Sweihan Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (ECWP) in Missour, Morocco, the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre in Kazakhstan and a second centre in Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre at Seih Al Salem. IFHC also has agreements in place with other countries along the Asian Houbara migratory route.

The Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Houbara Reintroduction Project

The Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Houbara Reintroduction Project, managed by the IFHC, sees a number of captive bred Houbara released into the wild in order to reinforce the population. Releases take place across the Houbara range, with past releases having taken place in the countries of the GCC such as Jordan and Kuwait, to Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

By way of a strategy of gradual releases, IFHC researchers learn about the environmental parameters that may affect population reinforcement. The released individuals are tracked in order to gather information on Houbara behaviour, ecology, demography, and most importantly, survival rates which are used to measure the overall success of the IFHC’s programme. Current average survival rate is 50 per cent one year after the release, with captive bred birds contributing to the natural increase of the population with breeding parameters comparable to those of wild houbaras.

Ecology & Research

The IFHC practises ecological and scientific research to reinforce existing Houbara bustard populations and to reintroduce the Houbara bustard species so as to make their populations sustainable.

The team of field scientists and researchers of the IFHC use their resources to understanding the conditions of a healthy environment in which Houbara bustard can thrive, and to understand all characteristics of the species’ behaviour. Radio and satellite-tracking studies have revealed many aspects of the species secret life including survival, breeding behaviour, habitat use, migration routes and favoured staging or wintering areas.

Researchers have been able to identify several ecological factors for the survival of both released birds and wild populations. Typically, in any region where Houbara bustard are released, biologists perform such operations as large-scale vegetation surveys, census of invertebrate and vertebrate animal life, habitat mapping and climate surveys at strategically located satellite stations. The effects of agricultural methods, in particular grazing, are measured to assess their impact on regeneration of appropriate plant life. The information gathered by IFHC biologists is important for regional conservation programmes in biodiversity and ecosystems.

Studies of existing flora and fauna specifically have resulted in an understanding of the nutritional requirements of the Houbara bustard. Even though the Houbara inhabits arid regions, rainfall is an important factor in the breeding cycle. Most of the effective breeding takes place after rainfall, when vegetation flourishes. As well as providing more quality and variety in plant matter, the rains prompt a greater concentration of insects. This dual benefit provides the optimum nutritional balance for breeding birds.

The IFHC research programmes have led to an understanding of the Houbara bustard and biologists have been able to establish standards for breeding and research facilities as well as a methodology in implementing conservation procedures.

Sustaining Communities

IFHC programmes assist local communities by supporting local infrastructure developments, providing employment, and by delivering education specific to bustard conservation, and to wildlife conservation in general. The IFHC has built roads, schools and mosques in local communities.

IFHC facilities in various parts of the world employ local workers to care for, handle and feed the birds, and to physically and technically maintain the facilities. The centres utilise the knowledge and input of specialists and researchers from many different countries for an international dimension of Houbara conservation.

Managed hunting brings income to remote communities, and the more sustainable the resources through this approach, the more secure the source of income. The IFHC partners with local authorities to develop and implement plans to preserve habitat and regulate hunting.

Centers

UAE

National Avian Research Centre – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Established in 1989, the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi, was the first centre to study and captive breed the Asian Houbara bustard.

The Centre became fully operational in 1993 and in 1996 produced its first captive-bred chicks with fifteen Houbara bustard hatchlings. Five captive-bred Houbara bustards were released by NARC for the first time in 2004. The releases have continued each year at various locations within the UAE. The first chicks hatched in the wild from released females were recorded in 2007 – a total of four chicks and three nests.

Researchers at NARC monitor the movements of Houbara bustards fitted with tracking devices throughout the bird’s range, from the Middle East through Central Asia. The NARC facility is a main research centre on the Asian Houbara bustard with programmes to monitor and record physiology, genetic profile, and behaviour of this vulnerable bird. Much of the centre’s work is geared to its release programme within the UAE.

IFHC recognizes that the participation of all stakeholders, which include conservationists, hunters and those whose action affect the survival of the Houbara bustard are required to achieve long-term conservation goals and conserve the Houbara bustard.

NARC has developed a Houbara bustard conservation public awareness programme, for educating young people about the plight of these vulnerable birds and how to save them. The Fund organises school visits to the NARC facility to introduce children to the Houbara bustard and teach them about its lifecycle, its ecological importance and its place in Arabian heritage.

NARC in Yemen provides presentations on the Arabian bustard to school children.

The Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre, Abu Dhabi (SKHBC-AD)

Construction on the IFHC’s second breeding centre located in the UAE began in 2010. The Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre, Abu Dhabi (SKHBC-AD) is located in Saih Al Salam, in the eastern region of the emirate, close by to NARC. Operational since 2012, IFHC built its second UAE based breeding centre to support the increase in the production capacity of captive bred Houbara, to reintroduce Houbara worldwide.

Producing over 5,000 Asian Houbara in its first year of operation, the centre has increased its production capacity, with its total breeding figure today standing close to 26,000 Houbara.

Morocco

Morocco | ECWP, Missour and Enjil

The Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (ECWP) opened a primary breeding centre in Missour, Morocco in 1995 focusing on the North African Houbara bustard. The facilities provide the full range of Houbara conservation activities.

The Centre operates a special programme supplying birds for release in Morocco and other locations across North Africa. A second facility at Enjil, close to Missour, was opened in 2006.

ECWP manages large, protected areas for Houbara reintroduction, restoration and reinstatement and in 2001 in partnership with Moroccan authorities it created a permanent, non-hunting protection zone.

In addition to breeding, reintroduction and habitat protection, ECWP delivers public awareness education through centre and field visits.

Its specialists also give presentations at seminars and conferences throughout the world and educate local inhabitants about the value of conservation and the repopulation of the Houbara bustard.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan | SKHBC-KZ, Shayan

Work was initiated in 2008 on the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Center (SKHBC) near Shymkent in southern Kazakhstan, for breeding and monitoring migratory Asian Houbara bustard. Although the centre is not working at full capacity yet, it has established a foundation stock of birds for breeding.

Asian Houbara

Houbara bustards are large-bodied birds with long legs and a slender neck. The upper body is speckled, sandy brown and the underside is creamy white. The male has long, black feathers around the back of his neck, and white feathers on the front, lower neck. Wide bands of distinct black and white occur on the wings and the square tail is sandy-brown with four distinct black bars.

With a wingspan of up to 1.5 meters, males weigh an average of 2.2 kilos while females weigh an average of 1.2 kilos.

Asian and North African Houbara differ by subtle variations of back colorations, and extent of black and white feathers on neck and crest.

Previously considered as one species, the Houbara Bustard has been split into two distinct species on the basis of genetic, morphologic, geographic and behavioural criteria:

• The Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii ) or MacQueen’s Bustard
• The North African Houbara (Chlamydotis undulata )

Houbara bustards inhabit large open landscapes from the huge steppes of Central Asia to remote, semi-arid regions of sand and stone desert with sparse plant life. The bird’s speckled appearance is a perfect camouflage in its natural habitat making it almost invisible, when motionless.

The Asian Houbara bustard has a wide distribution range from the Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan, India in the south, all the way through Central Asia up to Mongolia.

Asian Houbara populations breeding in spring in Central Asia migrate south in autumn to spend winters in the warmest parts of their range (Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan). In early spring, they migrate back to their breeding sites of China, Kazakhstan. Some Asian Houbara are resident and breed in the southern part of the range (Arabian Peninsula, Iran).

The Houbara bustard spends most of its time on the ground foraging for food. It is omnivorous and opportunistic; its diet consisting of plants, seeds, insects, spiders, small rodents and lizards. Adaption to its arid habitat enables the Houbara to obtain enough of its fluid from food and it seldom needs to drink water. Houbara feed mostly at sunrise or dusk. Adult birds are mainly solitary, but can forage in small groups according to the period of the year.

The male Houbara bustard performs extravagant displaying behaviour on a site he will use year after year, fluffing out the neck feathers and throwing his head back so that it is almost hidden inside a large ruff of black and white while he struts swiftly in a straight line or circle. The female visits one display site just for mating, and then leaves to another area where she will lay her eggs.

She makes a shallow hollow, a ‘scrape’, in the open ground where she lays one to six eggs, but more generally three to four. The male takes no part in egg incubation which lasts 23 days, or in rearing or defending the youth. His only contribution to breeding is by mating with the female.

The greatest threats to the Houbara bustard are from poaching, unregulated hunting, habitat loss through development and agriculture, and habitat degradation through overgrazing.

North African Houbara

Houbara bustards are large-bodied birds with long legs and a slender neck. The upper body is speckled, sandy brown and the underside is creamy white. The male has long, black feathers around the back of his neck, and white feathers on the front, lower neck. Wide bands of distinct black and white occur on the wings and the square tail is sandy-brown with four distinct black bars.

With a wingspan of up to 1.5 meters, males weigh an average of 2.2 kilos while females weigh an average of 1.2 kilos.

Asian and North African Houbara differ by subtle variations of back colorations, and extent of black and white feathers on neck and crest.

Previously considered as one species, the Houbara Bustard has been split into two distinct species on the basis of genetic, morphologic, geographic and behavioural criteria:

• The Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii ) or MacQueen’s Bustard
• The North African Houbara (Chlamydotis undulata )

Houbara bustards inhabit large open landscapes from the steppes to remote, semi-arid regions of sand and stone desert with sparse plant life. The bird’s speckled appearance is a perfect camouflage in its natural habitat making it almost invisible, when motionless.

The North African Houbara bustard is found over most of North Africa, from Western Sahara up to the Nile valley in Egypt. Eighty per cent of wild populations are located in Morocco and Algeria.

The Houbara bustard spends most of its time on the ground foraging for food. It is omnivorous and opportunistic; its diet consisting of plants, seeds, insects, spiders, small rodents and lizards. Adaption to its arid habitat enables the Houbara to obtain enough of its fluid from food and it seldom needs to drink water. Houbara feed mostly at sunrise or dusk. Adult birds are mainly solitary, but can forage in small groups according to the period of the year.

The male Houbara bustard performs extravagant displaying behaviour on a site he will use year after year, fluffing out the neck feathers and throwing his head back so that it is almost hidden inside a large ruff of black and white while he struts swiftly in a straight line or circle. The female visits one display site just for mating, and then leaves to another area where she will lay her eggs.

She makes a shallow hollow, a ‘scrape’, in the open ground where she lays one to six eggs, but more generally three to four. The male takes no part in egg incubation which lasts 23 days, or in rearing or defending the youth. His only contribution to breeding is by mating with the female.

The greatest threats to the Houbara bustard are from poaching, unregulated hunting, habitat loss through development and agriculture, and habitat degradation through overgrazing.

Arabian Bustard

The Arabian Bustard (Ardeotis arabs) is a large, long-legged bird inhabiting arid environments across the Sahelo-Sudanese belt from Senegambia to Eritrea, with a small range extension on the Tihama plain on the south-western side of the Arabian Peninsula.

Populations have declined drastically in Arabia. Currently, it seems probable that the only resident population on the Peninsula exists in Yemen. It is believed that the overall population is no more than 100 individuals, whose range does not exceed 1,000 km².

The Arabian Bustard favours semi-arid and open grassy plains, arid bush country and savannah. In Yemen, the bird can also be found in cultivated areas. Birds in Yemen are known to seek cover in crops of sorghum and millet when the temperature peaks, indicating that cultivated crops provide some protection.

The Arabian Bustard feeds on grasshoppers, swarming locusts, beetles, crickets, caterpillars and other invertebrates, as well as vegetation in the form of seeds and fruit. Small vertebrates, like snakes, lizards and small rodents also make part of the diet.

The breeding season of the Arabian Bustard seems to vary according to its location. It seems to be linked to rainfall, although generally it occurs from September to December in Arabia. The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground and females typically lay one or two eggs.

In Arabia, the main threats encountered by Arabian Bustards are linked to human activities, either through direct destructions (poaching, [...], egg or chick collection), or by habitat loss. Recent changes in agricultural practices and spread of irrigation with the building of new wells have converted traditional fields into fruit trees plantations (banana, mango), unsuitable for the species.

Disturbance from human intrusion often results in females abandoning nests. The low natural production rate of one to two eggs per clutch acts as a further disadvantage to a population already under stress.

The Arabian Bustard poses no threat to crops or livestock and local people are generally tolerant towards the bird. Public education through awareness campaigns aimed at both adults and children helps to illustrate the threats to the species and the necessity of taking action to protect the birds.

At the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) researchers have conducted studies to establish population numbers, health of habitat, and assessments of population distribution, movements and habitat use.

Based on this information NARC is developing a small-scale captive-breeding programme of the Arabian Bustard with the aim of reinforcing wild populations.

External links

• IFHC website (English)
• Video about the IFHC in UAE