A conservation status review of the Arabian bustard Ardeotis arabs

The Arabian bustard Ardeotis arabs is declining across its huge range in Africa’s Sahel. It inhabits open semi-desert to woodland savanna, but undertakes rains-related migrations and is vulnerable to hunting pressure and habitat degradation. Data relevant to its conservation status, chiefly national distribution records and population trends, plus a review of threats, reveal a serious contraction in range and numbers since around 1900. Of 24 countries from which the species is known, it is only a vagrant in 5, extinct in 2, near-extinct in 4, restricted to a tiny land area in 4, believed to be greatly reduced in 3, presumed to persist in 2, known to survive well (mostly in protected areas) in 1 (Chad), and still relatively common in parts of 3 countries (Eritrea, Djibouti and adjacent Ethiopia). Hunting for sport, food and trade has had a major impact, and everywhere its natural habitats are under steady degradation from livestock farming, agricultural expansion and intensification, locust control, human conflict, population increase and climate change (the last 2 factors involving the most alarming predictions for the next 75 yr). The species’ relatively favourable status in Chad, Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia makes these countries potential targets for research programmes to clarify aspects of its ecology that can inform its conservation, but every protected area needs management to improve the species’ status within it. Even so, without radical action to address conflict, human population growth and temperature rise across the Sahel, the Arabian bustard will be extinct by the year 2100.