Sand Gazelles Bred Inside Saudi Solar Park for the First Time

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has launched a sand gazelle breeding programme inside a 250 MW solar power facility in Tabuk, in what organisers describe as the first initiative of its kind to integrate wildlife husbandry within an operational solar park.

The programme follows a seven-month proof of concept that began in October 2025 with sand gazelle, mountain gazelle and Arabian hare. In May 2026, 33 female and five male sand gazelles were introduced into the 505-hectare facility, which supplies clean energy to Red Sea Global’s AMAALA destination. The first offspring are expected in December 2026, while population modelling suggests the herd could grow to around 600 animals by 2031.

The solar park’s predator-proof perimeter creates a controlled environment for breeding, while shade from the panels reduces ground temperatures by around 5°C to 10°C. The reserve said this has increased husbandry capacity 15-fold and allows rangers to continuously monitor animal behaviour, health and reproduction. Sand gazelles were selected in part because their grazing and browsing can help manage vegetation and disperse seeds, while their size allows them to move beneath the panels without disrupting infrastructure.

The project is being implemented with AMAALA Sustainable Company for Energy, alongside EDF Group, Masdar, SUEZ and Korea East-West Power. A founder population of at least 500 animals is required before reintroduction into the reserve’s 24,500-square-kilometre protected area can begin.