The Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate has launched a specialized program to track the Lappet-faced Vulture using the Global Positioning System (GPS), as part of its efforts to conserve wildlife, employ scientific research and innovation to protect endangered species, and support environmental studies and the management of protected areas in AlUla.

The initiative comes in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and aims to employ advanced technologies and environmental data analysis to support wildlife protection, and develop conservation and sustainable management decisions for protected areas based on scientific principles.

The program aims to collect field data on the movements of the Lappet-faced Vulture.

The program included installing a solar-powered tracking device on one Lappet-faced Vulture, after spotting an active nest and monitoring it in the field, and conducting necessary veterinary examinations, before returning it to its nest.

The program aims to collect field data on the movements and behavior of the Lappet-faced Vulture after it leaves the nest, and contribute to identifying important habitats, its environmental needs, and movement paths, and monitoring potential risk areas, thereby supporting efforts to protect natural habitats and develop management of protected areas based on scientific principles.

The Commission stated that the importance of the program lies in its ability to provide field data that helps understand the movements and environmental needs of the Lappet-faced Vulture, supporting more accurate future decisions to protect this species and its natural habitats.

The program is an extension of the Commission's efforts to employ modern technologies to monitor wildlife species and study their behavior, and utilize data to support environmental studies, evaluate wildlife conservation programs, and guide protection efforts.

The Lappet-faced Vulture is one of the largest vulture species in its geographic range, and is classified as an endangered species according to the IUCN Red List. It is considered an indicator species for ecosystem health, as its presence and successful breeding reflect the quality and balance of natural habitats. Vultures play an important ecological role in removing carcasses, recycling nutrients, and contributing to maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

Field monitoring results indicate the regular presence of between 20 and 30 individual Lappet-faced Vultures in AlUla, representing about 2.5% of the national population of this species, in addition to monitoring four breeding pairs in the region during the current season, including the pair that raised the vulture equipped with the tracking device.

The data generated by the program is expected to contribute to studies on nesting sites, food sources, movement paths, and areas less affected by human activities, in addition to supporting future research and long-term planning for the management of protected areas in AlUla.

It is worth noting that the program falls within the work of the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate in the field of environmental monitoring and biodiversity, which includes monitoring various wildlife species, conducting environmental studies, restoring natural habitats, and employing modern technologies and research partnerships.

The program also extends the Commission's previous monitoring of various organisms, supporting efforts to conserve biodiversity, sustain wildlife species, and the targets of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030.