Population reinforcement

    More than 168,000 captive-bred houbara have been released in North Africa at the end of 2023. The birds’ ability to survive and reproduce into the wild, combined with steps to protect populations, with the bustard population density in the ECWP intervention zone measured at 0.3 houbaras / km² — one of the highest known densities anywhere in the species’ range.

    Houbara historical release in ECWP

    Today, the dynamic of the reinforced population according to various factors is carefully assessed in order to determine the optimal number and the make-up of the groups of individuals to release each year in hunting and non-hunting zones so that a viable population can be sustainably established.