Wildlife

Houbara Bustard Welfare in North Africa and Middle East

The houbara bustard is a large and declining steppe species hunted with falconry across its range, with welfare concerns around both hunting and captive breeding for release.

Key Facts

Listed as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List
Captive breeding for release to support wild populations is widely practiced
Traditional falconry hunting is legal in some range countries with quotas
Wild populations have declined from hunting and habitat loss
Migration routes across the Middle East expose birds to hunting pressure

Welfare Considerations

Hunting pressure exceeds sustainable levels in some range countries despite quota systems. Captive-bred birds released for hunting with falconry represent a complex welfare trade-off. Habitat loss across the Sahara and Arabian steppe from grazing and development reduces wild populations. Long migrations across politically unstable regions expose birds to unregulated hunting.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International houbara bustard conservation advocacy
Advocate for sustainable hunting quota enforcement across the range
Donate to raptor and steppe bird research in North Africa
Encourage responsible wildlife tourism as alternative to hunting