A group of university professors engaged in the preservation of Saudi wildlife has won a prize of $30,000 instituted by a multinational company. Dr. Abdulhadi Ahmad Aloufi, Assistant Professor of Zoology, Botany Department, Tabuk University received the check at a press conference here Wednesday by Ford Motor Company to announce the 2010 winner under its annual Conservation and Environmental Grants Program. Hussein Murad, Ford Motor Company, Director of Sales for Middle East awarded the check to Dr. Aloufi. Dr. Aloufi said he and other professors in the group including Prof. Muhammad Shobra'an of Taif University, Dr. Awadh Al-Johani, a professor at King Saud University and a consultant to National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), have been working to save the Saudi wildlife by engaging themselves in a number of activities. He said the group was inspired by an urge to do something noble for the country. One day in a brainstorming sessions that the group had an idea struck about preserving the Saudi wildlife. “We joined hands and studied the idea further that led to the construction of the website in Arabic language entitled Wildlife Saudi Arabia,” he said. The website contains information about the varied nature of Saudi wildlife, the endangered species and those animals that were pronounced as extinct, he said. “Our other activities include the publication of magazine, YouTube, writing poetry and a comprehensive photo album on Saudi wildlife,” he said. The Arabian cheetah and kudu, a type of Arabian gazelle have already been declared as extinct animals by Saudi authorities, he said. However, the Arabian leopard, Arabian Oryx and monitor lizard, popularly known among the Saudi society as dhub have been listed under the endangered species. Dhub is endangered because this type of reptile is hunted in Saudi Arabia for its delicacy and its number is declining rapidly. Saudi Arabia has a huge wealth of wildlife that include 64 species of mammals, 160 reptiles, 540 birds types and seven amphibians, he said. “Our plan is to introduce all types of amphibians including fresh-water and sea-water fish in the form of video clippings and photo albums with an aim to create awareness among the people about how important it is protect the rich nature of the Saudi wildlife,” he said. He said his group has not received any financial support from the Saudi government so far. However, the group, a non-profit outfit has been working to submit proposals to the leading Saudi companies including those multinationals that are operating in the Kingdom urging them to come forward and support their cause of saving Saudi wildlife, he said. “We have big dreams but needs support to accomplish our ambitions,” Dr. Aloufi said. He said the prize money of $30,000 awarded by Ford Motors will be used to further develop the website including the construction of a section of the website in English language.
