Ten wild animals were set free today in Saiysad National Park, Taif, by the Governor of Taif, Prince Fawaz bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, in the latest stage of the Kingdom's initiative to return native species to their natural habitats and enrich biodiversity.

The release, carried out by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) together with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, comprised three Arabian oryx, four red-necked ostriches and three wild rabbits. Field preparations had been made beforehand to make sure the habitat was suitable and to support steady population growth.

Prince Fawaz was also briefed during the visit on a specialized forest research center under construction inside the park, intended to advance research on forest development and the sustainability of vegetation cover.

NCW CEO Dr. Mohammad Qurban said national parks act as safe corridors connecting nature reserves and also support ecotourism. He explained that the center's reintroduction programs move through scientific stages, from assessing the habitat to monitoring animals after release, in order to protect the Kingdom's biodiversity.