Saudi Arabias National Center for Wildlife has launched a new phase in its program to address the growing numbers of baboons

The National Centre for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia has begun a new phase of its programme to handle the Kingdom's expanding baboon population. The initiative to remove the animal from urban and rural regions is intended to reduce baboon assaults and environmental harm. The issue is being addressed through a set of actions based on scientific investigations that were previously implemented with the help of local and international specialists.

The procedures include removing baboons from inhabited areas and preventing the problem from recurring by implementing a set of solutions endorsed by relevant international organisations. The NCW has recently reported the complete success of activities aimed at reducing the number of baboons at holy places. The organisation praised the combined efforts of several sectors in tackling the issue, while emphasising the improvement in community knowledge, which has helped to minimise instances of the public feeding baboons.

Last year, the NCW started an animal-focused programme, and workshops were held to assist develop answers. Experts taught field survey teams participating in the programme how to gather and analyse information and data, as well as how to cope with baboons.