Insulators Installed in Farasan Islands Reserve to Protect Birds
The avian dwellers of Farasan Islands Reserve found themselves entwined in a battle for survival against a modern-day peril – electrocution from medium-voltage power lines. Recognizing the grave threat poised by these lethal electric veins, Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife embarked on a collaborative venture with BirdLife International and the Saudi Electricity Co.
The mission was clear- to install insulators on these power lines, casting a veil of protection over the winged inhabitants of the Farasan Islands Reserve.
Farasan Islands, a kaleidoscopic archipelago located approximately 50 km west of the Saudi port city of Jazan, is home to a rich tapestry of biodiversity.
Adorned with pristine turquoise waters of the Red Sea, this haven of natural beauty hosts ancient sites and an extensive range of marine habitats.
Its vibrant marine ecosystems embrace red and black mangroves, seagrass beds, coral, saltmarshes, and macroalgal reefs.
On the terrestrial facet, the islands harbor a plethora of wildlife including the Idmi gazelle, sooty falcon, white-eyed gull, osprey, and Red Sea Noddy birds, among others.
The realm is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preserving its natural wonders, aligning with the ambitious Vision 2030 project which underscores sustainability as its core ethos.
The venture materialized following extensive research revealing the harsh reality of electrocution, an arch-nemesis to the avian kingdom globally for over a century. Medium-voltage power lines, ubiquitous across the landscape, morphed into death traps for migratory, endangered, and resident birds alike.
The electrocution not only snuffed out avian lives but also sparked a domino effect, disrupting their breeding, wintering, and migration grounds, and, in a broader spectrum, the environmental balance and biodiversity.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Salem, the helmsman of the birds department at the National Center for Wildlife, highlighted the cataclysmic aftermath of electrocution – a scenario where birds, upon contact with conductors, endured severe and deadly injuries.
The ordeal didn’t end there; post electrocution, the birds plummeted to the ground, often meeting a grim fate. This cascade of events underpinned the imperative for intervention, driving the initiative to install insulators, thereby mitigating the risks associated with bird electrocution.
The project unfolded in multiple phases, extending its protective umbrella beyond the Farasan Islands Reserve to regions such as Ushaiqer and Al-Qunfudah.
The journey entailed meticulous studies, 682 in total, encapsulating the Eastern Mediterranean trajectory spanning 13 countries, aiming to unveil the threats lurking and devising robust countermeasures.
The project was a fragment of the grand “Egyptian Vulture New LIFE” initiative, funded by the EU, endeavoring to shield the one million predatory birds, inclusive of 12 endangered species, traversing this trajectory annually.
This initiative, marrying technology with conservation, has emerged as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a harmonious coexistence between modernization and nature’s splendor.
The insulator project in Farasan Islands Reserve epitomizes a pioneering stride towards safeguarding the Farasan Islands Birds, ensuring the skies remain a safe haven for the avian melody that serenades the islands’ pristine landscapes.
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