The International Fund for Houbara Conservation, via the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) and Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre in Abu Dhabi, have developed one of the largest repopulation programmes, anywhere in the world, of an endangered species - the houbaras. Houbaras are on the brink of extinction, sought after by falconers because they are the traditional prey for hunting birds, and are also often smuggled illegally across regional borders. The site runs a breeding and release programme, while conducting research for protecting the future of the species. The Houbaras chicks are fed mealworms and crickets by hand, huddled together under a lamp in each breeding pen, mimicking the warmth of their mother. After a few months, birds are released into the wild to re-join migratory routes and take their first steps outside of the firmly controlled laboratory conditions. They are kept in large tunnels where they have space to learn to fly, socialize, and find their own food, as in the wild. (Khushnum Bhandari/ The National News)
