Rector Inaugurates "baboons' problems in Saudi Arabia." Workshop.

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King Khalid University, Media Center

His Excellency the Rector of King Khalid University, Prof. Dr. Abdurahman bin Hamad Aldawood, has  stressed on the duty of the university towards the community and the environment. The Rector said, "It, the University, through its mission, seeks to provide an academic environment of high quality education. In addition, the University cherishes innovative researches and provides constructive services to the community." The Rector's statement was on the occasion of conducting a workshop on the university campus, which seeks to be of benefit to the environment and the society. The workshop of "baboons' problems in Saudi Arabia" was inaugurated on Monday 30/11/2015, and was organized by the Saudi Wildlife Authority, and hosted by the King Khalid University (KKU), from 30/11/2015 to 1/12/2015, with the Central Stands of the University City in Abha as its venue. Rector Aldawood started the ceremony with a welcome speech to the participants and the audience, praising the efforts of the Commission in protecting the wildlife of the Kingdom. The Rector also thanked the President of the Saudi Wildlife Authority, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, for his tireless efforts in arranging this workshop.

In turn, Mr. Mohamed Altarif gave the word of the Saudi Wildlife Authority on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud. In the speech, Altarif praised the efforts exerted by the King Khalid University to support scientific studies and applied researches that are directed towards service of the community, stressing that "the spread of baboons in the South and South-West Regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is an important issue that needs to be discussed, thus, the Authority was keen on making this workshop".  Mr. Altarif thanked Prince Bandar for his attention and his continued quest on holding the workshop. Finally, Mr. Altarif thanked the Rector of KKU for organizing and hosting the workshop. Finally, Mr. Altarif stressed, "The Saudi Wildlife Authority is working on creating safe havens for natural wild animals (leopards, hyenas, and wolves). Its goal is to reduce the prevalence of domesticated baboons".

The first session of the workshop discussed a number of topics. The coordinator of the workshop who is also the director of the Prince Saud al-Faisal Center for Wildlife Research in Taif , Mr. Ahmed Albooq, gave a lecture about monkeys' problem in the Kingdom and its dimensions. In his lecture, Mr. Albooq confirmed that monkeys' problem are caused by human errors, and there is need for comprehensive plans, as well as a large financial funding, in order to reduce it.

 Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Aqili, a professor at King Saud University, also spoke about his studies conducted on the topic of the workshop. He noted that the chances of transmission of diseases across the baboons to humans, directly or indirectly, is an important subject on which solutions must be found. Dr. Deo Digi also confirmed through his dissertation, on which he is working on now, that "man is the main reason for the emergence of baboons' problems". He proofed his point of view saying that "Man tries to domesticate monkeys, feeding them by throwing waste". Dr. Deo Digi pointed out that "there is an overlap between human problems and wild animals, resulting in the intensification of the seriousness of disease transmission and spread".

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