Morocco launches program to save endangered bird
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Moroccan teams began a program to protect the Turnix d’Andalousie, a subspecies of quail, and increase its chances of survival in the country.
The Turnix d’Andalousie, also known as zarkil, is now found only in Morocco within the Mediterranean basin, particularly in traditional farmland near the Atlantic coast around Oualidia. In 2026, conservationists successfully collected and hatched eggs in captivity, establishing the first breeding group of this bird within Morocco.
These captive birds now live at the Aïn Sebaâ zoo in Casablanca, where staff monitor their health and genetics. The breeding group will serve as the foundation for increasing wild populations and reintroducing the bird to areas where it once lived. Abdelrahim Houmy, director general of the agency, explained that breeding outside the bird’s natural habitat provides an extra layer of security for the species.
The initiative falls under Morocco’s 2020-2030 Forests strategy, which focuses on protecting biodiversity and endangered species while developing national expertise in wildlife conservation.
