Morocco works to save endangered bird species
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The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) in Morocco began a program to protect the endangered Andalusian hemipode, a bird species declining across the Mediterranean region.
The agency combined monitoring of wild birds with a captive breeding program to preserve the subspecies and its genetic diversity. Morocco feels a special responsibility for the bird because a population lives along its Atlantic coast near Oualidia, where the birds depend on farmland.
In 2026, ANEF surveyed wild populations and collected eggs, which they then incubated and hatched in captivity. They established a breeding population at Ain Sebaâ Zoo in Casablanca to serve as a reserve and support future conservation. ANEF closely monitors the health, reproduction, and genetics of the captive birds to maintain diversity and prepare for efforts to bolster wild populations. Abderrahim Houmy, Director of ANEF, stated that protecting the remaining Moroccan population is a priority.
The program aligns with the Forests of Morocco 2020-2030 strategy, which prioritizes biodiversity conservation and developing expertise in preserving natural heritage. ANEF intends to combine this new work with existing conservation efforts and international collaboration.
