Saudi Arabia Records First Wild Donkey Birth in Over 100 Years
News Desk
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant milestone in wildlife conservation with the birth of an Asian wild donkey (onager) calf, the first recorded in the country in more than 100 years.
The birth took place at the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, according to the Saudi Gazette.
The male calf was born in June 2025, but the announcement was made after it successfully completed its first year of life, a critical survival period for the species in which mortality rates are particularly high.
Officials at the reserve said the delay in announcing the birth was intentional, as the first 12 months are considered the most vulnerable stage for wild donkey calves, with survival rates estimated at below 50 per cent.
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The birth is part of the Arabian Peninsula Wildlife Restoration Programme, which aims to reintroduce 23 native species to their historic habitats across the region. The initiative seeks to restore wildlife that has disappeared from the Arabian deserts for decades or even over a century.
According to Andrew Zalomis, CEO of the reserve, the achievement followed a collaboration with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature in Jordan. In April 2024, five female and two male onagers were transferred over a 935-kilometre journey from Jordan’s Shomri Wildlife Reserve to Saudi Arabia to establish a breeding population.
Since the relocation, one calf has been successfully born, while two subsequent births were unsuccessful, highlighting the challenges involved in restoring the species in a new environment. Experts note that newborn onagers must stand and begin nursing within 15 to 20 minutes of birth to survive.
The reserve currently hosts a herd of eight animals, five females and three males, making it the only known population of the species in Saudi Arabia. Officials also expect at least two more births during the coming winter, which could further strengthen the population.
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According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), fewer than 600 onagers remain in the wild, and the species is classified as critically endangered. The organization has warned that the population could decline by up to 90 per cent by 2050 without effective conservation measures.
As part of ongoing efforts, the reserve is also working to improve genetic diversity within the herd. A new female is expected to be introduced from Jordan following quarantine procedures, and plans are underway to establish two separate breeding herds to enhance long-term survival prospects.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve said the project reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader commitment to wildlife restoration and ecosystem conservation through national and regional cooperation aimed at protecting endangered species.
