Muscat – In a move aimed at strengthening avian conservation, the Environment Authority, in collaboration with the Environment Society of Oman, has released a lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) into the wild at Wadi Sireen Nature Reserve in South Batinah.

The bird, listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was rehabilitated following an intensive care programme.

It has now been fitted with a satellite tracking device to monitor its movement, nesting behaviour and habitat preferences. The data will help researchers understand the species’ ecological needs and accordingly contribute to long-term conservation planning.

Ali Nasser al Rasbi, an environmental specialist, said, “There are more than 38 species of birds in the sultanate, and the lappet-faced vulture is the largest among them. Monitoring its behaviour in the wild provides crucial insights into the overall health of our ecosystems.”

Once widespread across Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, populations of the lappet-faced vulture have declined sharply due to poisoning, persecution and habitat loss.

Only a small and rapidly shrinking population remains, making conservation initiatives in Oman and elsewhere vital to the species’ survival.

The reintroduction forms part of a broader strategy by the Environment Authority to protect endangered and vulnerable bird species across Oman. The programme aims to support biodiversity, maintain ecological balance, and raise awareness about the critical role vultures play as natural scavengers.

Wadi Sireen Nature Reserve, about 45km south of Muscat in the eastern Al Hajar Mountains, was chosen for the release due to its protected status and biodiversity. It is also home to endangered Arabian tahr, among other rare wildlife, making it a key site for ongoing and future conservation efforts.