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Prioritizing conservation over species ‘de-extinction’

Prioritizing conservation over species ‘de-extinction’

Prioritizing conservation over species ‘de-extinction’
Since 2022, 94 sand gazelles had been born under the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve's rewilding program. (SPA)
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Scientists have long dreamed of regenerating extinct animals — a dream that is now reality thanks to advances in molecular science and genetic techniques. However, the cost, value, and significance of such efforts have always been questionable.

The recent news about the “resurrection” of the dire wolf is captivating — but somewhat misleading. Scientists used ancient DNA from dire wolf fossils to modify a small segment of the gray wolf genome, recreating certain physical traits reminiscent of the extinct dire wolf.

But this does not mean the species has been revived. The dire wolf and gray wolf diverged more than 5 million years ago. A genetically modified gray wolf exhibiting some traits of the dire wolf has been developed — but it is not a resurrection.

Genetic engineering is a contentious issue because it is invasive and permanently alters an organism’s genetic profile. The process of genetically engineering mammals is slow, tedious, and expensive. The insertion, modification and deletion of genes are often heritable, producing new strains or breeds that do not occur naturally.

This raises questions about their biological, psychological and social characteristics, as well as their adaptability and disease resistance.

While cloning can help save endangered species from extinction, it may also lead to genetic homogeneity, weakening their long-term survival in the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature predicts that by the end of this century nearly all critically endangered species worldwide — and 67 percent of endangered species — could be lost forever.

In Ƶ, the rise of motor vehicles and the widespread ownership of firearms after the Second World War led to an explosion in hunting. This led to a significant decline in wild species — some now facing imminent extinction.

Examples include the Arabian ostrich, the onager and the Saudi gazelle. Sadly, some carnivorous species, such as the Arabian cheetah and lion, have long gone extinct in the Kingdom.

Several conservation organizations argue that resources would be better spent on saving endangered species by mitigating human impact on ecosystems.

Hany Tatwany 

In 1989, we launched a worldwide campaign to find the Saudi gazelle, dubbed “Operation Saudi Gazelle,” to locate living specimens of this unique animal, found exclusively in the Kingdom. The gazelle was extinct in the wild and known only from museum skin samples.

After failing to locate living gazelles in the wild, we redirected our efforts to protecting endangered species that still exist in the Kingdom.

Several conservation organizations argue that resources would be better spent on saving endangered species by mitigating human impact on ecosystems.

After all, pouring scientific and financial capital into reviving extinct species like the dire wolf — not to mention the woolly mammoth, thylacine or even the dodo — does nothing to help the millions of species alive today that urgently need our support.

Science can — and should — support conservation. But it must be grounded in ethics and responsibility. Misleading headlines do more harm than good.

What is lacking is not technology but support, funding and consistent care for the biodiversity that still survives.

We are losing species every day at an alarming rate, while simultaneously spending millions trying to bring back animals that no longer exist.

Instead, scientists should be fighting to protect the animals still clinging to existence. They are not extinct or mythical. They are just overlooked.

Hany Tatwany is a conservationist with more than 38 years of experience in biodiversity conservation.

 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Kingdom’s ambassador welcomes US counterpart to Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo

Kingdom’s ambassador welcomes US counterpart to Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo
The visit between the representatives of Ƶ and the US in Japan comes ten days after US President Donald Trump’s histo
Updated 11 min 28 sec ago

Kingdom’s ambassador welcomes US counterpart to Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo

Kingdom’s ambassador welcomes US counterpart to Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo
  • Ghazi Faisal Binzagr holds talks with George Glass
  • Pavilion boosts US-Kingdom ties, says Saudi envoy

OSAKA: The Kingdom’s Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr welcomed his US counterpart George Glass to the Ƶ Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on Friday.

Binzagr said it was a pleasure to host Glass and his delegation from the US at the VIP reception.

“Ƶ’s pavilion is not only an important cultural asset where we share our story with the world but also serves as a meeting place where global leaders can come together to deepen understanding of each other, while addressing some of our greatest challenges,” Binzagr said.

The visit between the representatives of Ƶ and the US in Japan comes 10 days after US President Donald Trump’s historic state visit to Riyadh.

The visit reinforces the strategic long-term relationship between the Kingdom and the US and is important for potential future partnerships aimed at mutual growth.

Binzagr and Glass toured the pavilion which showcases Ƶ’s rich cultural history, its transformation as a nation, and global influence on sustainability and innovation.

The US delegation enjoyed the Kingdom’s hospitality over a discussion on shared goals for the expo and the future before exchanging gifts in the Saudi Majlis.

Binzagr, the commissioner general of the Ƶ Pavilion, said it was a productive and collaborative first meeting between the two ambassadors based in Japan.

The Ƶ Pavilion hosts VIP delegations and business events that focus on the Kingdom’s impact on the world.

In addition to hosting over 700 events across the expo program which includes business and investment forums, visitors to the Ƶ Pavilion will see daily dance and fashion shows.

In addition, they can explore seven immersive rooms and galleries, featuring evolving cities, sustainable seas, the potential of human capital and innovation.


Rescue efforts underway for 260 workers trapped in a South African gold mine

Rescue efforts underway for 260 workers trapped in a South African gold mine
Updated 20 min 53 sec ago

Rescue efforts underway for 260 workers trapped in a South African gold mine

Rescue efforts underway for 260 workers trapped in a South African gold mine

JOHANNESBURG: Rescue efforts are underway in South Africa to bring 260 workers trapped in a gold mine for a day back to the surface, the Sibanye Stillwater mining company said on Friday.
According to the company, an initial investigation showed that a sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point and caused some damage to the mineshaft at the Kloof mine, west of Johannesburg.
“Following a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees should remain at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, in order to avoid walking long distances at this time,” the company said in a statement.
The National Union of Mineworkers, which represents workers at the Kloof mine, said the miners have been trapped for almost 24 hours, with the company repeatedly changing the estimated time for them to return to the surface.
“We are very concerned because the mine did not even make this incident public until we reported it to the media,” said NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu.
The company said all miners were accounted for and safe, adding that it expected to hoist them back to the surface on Friday.


Pakistan to offer US firms concessions on mining investment in tariff talks, says minister

Pakistan to offer US firms concessions on mining investment in tariff talks, says minister
Updated 25 min 57 sec ago

Pakistan to offer US firms concessions on mining investment in tariff talks, says minister

Pakistan to offer US firms concessions on mining investment in tariff talks, says minister
  • Pakistan would put its offer of concessions for mining investment to US officials during talks over tariffs in the coming weeks
  • Pakistan’s Reko Diq gold mining project in Balochistan seeks up to $2 billion in financing, including up to $1 billion from US bank

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to offer concessions to US companies to invest in its mining sector as part of negotiations with Washington over tariffs, its commerce minister told Reuters, as Islamabad seeks to capitalize on the Trump administration’s interest in boosting trade with South Asia.

Pakistan faces a potential 29 percent tariff on exports to the United States due to a $3 billion trade surplus with the world’s biggest economy, under tariffs announced by Washington last month on countries around the world. Tariffs were subsequently suspended for 90 days so negotiations could take place.

Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal said that Islamabad will offer US businesses opportunities to invest in mining projects primarily in Pakistan’s Balochistan province through joint ventures with local companies, providing concessions like lease grants.

The minister said that would be in addition to efforts to increase imports from the United States, particularly cotton and edible oils, which are currently in short supply in Pakistan.

Pakistan would put its offer of concessions for mining investment to US officials during talks over tariffs in the coming weeks.

Kamal did not give further information on the bidding process of these mines or other details.

“There is untapped potential for US companies in Pakistan, from mining machinery to hydrocarbon ventures,” he said in an interview with Reuters conducted on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mining project in Balochistan seeks up to $2 billion in financing, including $500 million to $1 billion from the US Export-Import Bank, with term sheets expected by early in the third quarter of this year, its project director told Reuters last month.

The mine could generate $70 billion in free cash flow and $90 billion in operating cash flow over its lifespan.

US President Donald Trump has said that he’s working on “big deals” with both India and Pakistan, following Washington’s key role in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India earlier this month following the worst fighting in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

“The previous US administration focused more on India, but Pakistan is now being recognized as a serious trade partner,” Kamal said.

Pakistan will gradually lower tariffs in its upcoming federal budget, Kamal said.

He said that the United States has not specified trade barriers or priority sectors. The US Embassy in Islamabad did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Israel lets food into Gaza even as its forces attack a hospital, Palestinians say

Israel lets food into Gaza even as its forces attack a hospital, Palestinians say
Updated 26 min 9 sec ago

Israel lets food into Gaza even as its forces attack a hospital, Palestinians say

Israel lets food into Gaza even as its forces attack a hospital, Palestinians say

Israeli tanks and drones attacked a hospital in northern Gaza overnight, igniting fires and causing extensive damage, Palestinian hospital officials said on Thursday. Videos taken by a health official at Al-Awda Hospital show walls blown away and thick black smoke billowing wreckage.
The Israeli military said its forces were operating “adjacent” to Al-Awda Hospital and had allowed emergency workers to come try to put out a fire at the hospital, but said only that, “The circumstances of the fire are still under review.”
Pressure from close allies is mounting on Israel following a nearly three-month blockade of supplies into Gaza that led to famine warnings. Even the United States, a staunch ally, has voiced concerns over the hunger crisis. UN agencies say Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order in Gaza make it difficult to retrieve and distribute the aid. As a result, little of it has so far reached those in need.
The UN says aid has been collected from only about 90 trucks — out of a total of nearly 200 that have entered Gaza since Israel ended its nearly three-month blockade this week.
“The shipments from yesterday is limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the scale and scope of of Gaza’s 2.1 million people,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Gaza’s Heath Ministry said Thursday morning that more than 100 people had been killed across the Gaza Strip and around 250 wounded over the past 24 hours. It was not immediately clear if there were fatalities at Al-Awda Hospital.
Here’s the latest:
Israel says it has intercepted missile fired from Yemen
Early Friday, sirens sounded in parts of Israel as its military said it detected a missile launch by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting the country.
The Israeli military said it intercepted the missile as booms could be heard in Jerusalem.
The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, but it can take hours or even days for the rebels to acknowledge their assaults.
Lebanese prime minister condemns latest Israeli strikes
The wave of airstrikes came two days before municipal elections are slated to take place in southern Lebanon.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Israel’s attacks “will not deter the state from its commitment to the electoral process,” and called for more international pressure to make Israel stop bombing his country.
Israel carries out widespread strikes in Lebanon
Israel carried out strikes on multiple areas in southern Lebanon on Thursday, some far from the border, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.
It described the strikes as “the most violent in some areas” since a ceasefire deal ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November. Residents of northern Israel also reported hearing loud explosions from across the border.
The Israeli army issued a warning ahead of one strike that destroyed a building in the town of Toul, which it described as “facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah.” Video of the strike’s aftermath showed fire and a massive cloud of smoke rising over an area packed with multi-story apartment buildings. Strikes in other areas were carried out without warning.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel has struck Lebanon almost every day since the ceasefire. Lebanon says those strikes are in violation of the deal, while Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah to prevent it from re-arming.
Netanyahu names a new head of security agency after pushing to oust the previous chief
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced Thursday his decision to appoint Major General David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service.
Zini is a former army commando and has held a number of top positions in the Israeli military. Netanyahu’s office said that in March 2023 Zini prepared a report warning about the dangers of a surprise attack on Israeli forces along the Gaza border.
Earlier this year Netanyahu moved to fire the agency’s current chief, Ronen Bar, blaming his agency for failures in the lead-up to Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel’s Supreme Court froze Bar’s firing after multiple legal challenges against it, however Bar has since said he will resign in June.
Trump and Netanyahu discuss embassy staffers’ shooting and Iran nuclear deal
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Thursday about the shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Washington reception, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt said the two leaders also discussed “a potential deal” with Iran to stem its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Trump is expected to dispatch special envoy Steve Witkoff to Italy for talks later this week with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi.
Leavitt said Trump believes the talks are “moving along in the right direction.”
UN says Palestinians stole food from aid trucks in Gaza
UN officials on Thursday said that a small number of trucks carrying flour on Wednesday were intercepted by residents and their contents were stolen.
“As far as I know, this was not a criminal act with armed men,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a briefing.
He added that the episode “only reflects the very high level of anxiety that people in Gaza are feeling, not knowing when the next humanitarian delivery will take place.”
Over the last several months, Israel has accused Hamas of siphoning off aid and using it to fund its military activities, without providing evidence. The UN has said that there are mechanisms in place that prevent any significant diversion of aid.
Israel says ‘no food shortage in Gaza’ even as UN says the trickle of aid is ‘nowhere near sufficient’
The Israeli military agency in charge of transferring aid to Gaza, COGAT, said Thursday that the United Nations is currently allowed to bring in “nutrition products, some food ingredients and medical supplies.”
“According to our current assessment, there is no food shortage in Gaza at this time,” COGAT said in a statement on X.
The UN says aid has been collected from only about 90 trucks — out of a total of nearly 200 that have entered Gaza since Israel ended its nearly three-month blockade this week.
“The shipments from yesterday is limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the scale and scope of of Gaza’s 2.1 million people,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
The UN has said that around 600 trucks entered during a recent ceasefire, which was the amount necessary to meet people’s basic needs.
Former Israeli leader says only pressure from Trump can end the war in Gaza
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that the only international leader with enough power to make Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stop the war in Gaza is US President Donald Trump.
“If at some point the president of the United States, President Trump, will take part and perhaps will summon the Israeli prime minister and say to him in no unclear terms that ‘enough is enough’ — that may be very useful,” said Olmert, an open critic of Israel’s war in Gaza.
“I am against the expansion of the military operations in Gaza, I think that they bring us close to crimes because if there is no purpose and there is not a possible outcome that is worth the cost, then why should we continue?” he said during an interview in his Tel Aviv office.
Olmert said he understands why the EU and countries like Britain, Canada and France sent strong warnings to Israel this week, including threatening sanctions, but believes that ultimately a dressing down from Trump would stop Netanyahu from continuing the war.
Hospitals have special protection under the rules of war. Why are they in the crosshairs in Gaza?
In the Israel-Hamas war, hospitals in the combat zone of hollowed-out northern Gaza have increasingly ended up in the crosshairs. They have also become flashpoints for warring narratives.
Israel claims that Hamas locates military assets under hospitals and other sensitive sites like schools and mosques, and that its fighters use hospitals as shields. Palestinians and rights groups accuse Israel of mounting an all-out attack on Gaza’s health infrastructure to punish the population and force a surrender.
International humanitarian law lends hospitals special protections during war. But hospitals can lose their protections if combatants use them to hide fighters or store weapons, the International Committee of the Red Cross says.


Pakistan business confidence improves by 16% points, survey reveals

Pakistan business confidence improves by 16% points, survey reveals
Updated 32 min 19 sec ago

Pakistan business confidence improves by 16% points, survey reveals

Pakistan business confidence improves by 16% points, survey reveals
  • The development comes over a week after the IMF approved a loan review for Pakistan, unlocking a $1 billion payment
  • Pakistan’s stocks, which rose more than 80 percent last year, have also largely resisted the pressures in recent weeks

KARACHI: Business confidence has significantly improved among investors in Pakistan that is largely attributed to macroeconomic stability, declining inflation and anticipated improvements in business conditions over the next six months, a survey by Pakistan’s Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) revealed on Thursday.

The Business Confidence Index (BCI) Survey – Wave 27, conducted across Pakistan in March-April 2025, shows the overall business confidence improved by 16 percentage points from negative 5 percent to positive 11 percent, compared to the previous Wave 26 survey in October-November 2024.

The Manufacturing sector led the recovery, improving from negative 3 percent to positive 15 percent, followed by the Retail/Wholesale sector, which rose from negative 18 percent to positive 2 percent in the latest survey. The Services sector maintained a steady outlook and jumped from 2 percent to 10 percent positive.

“The uptick in business confidence is a clear sign that our economic direction is on the right track. We are focused on creating a conducive environment for investment, supporting private sector growth, and ensuring long-term macroeconomic resilience,” Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was quoted as saying by the OICCI.

“The improved sentiment among businesses is both encouraging and a validation of our collective efforts.”

The development comes more than a week after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a loan program review for Pakistan, unlocking a $1 billion payment which the State Bank of Pakistan said had been received. A fresh $1.4 billion loan was also approved under the IMF’s climate resilience fund.

Since averting a default in 2023, the South Asian country has been making rigorous efforts to boost its economy by offering various incentives to investors, particularly from abroad.

Pakistan’s stocks, which rose more than 80 percent last year, have largely resisted selling pressures in recent weeks, despite the country’s conflict with India that saw the two sides strike each other with missiles, drones and artillery.

Commenting on the survey’s findings, OICCI President Yousaf Hussain said the overall business confidence had shown a notable improvement across the business community over the past two years.

“This sharp recovery in the Business Confidence in the latest Wave 27 reflects the resilience of Pakistan’s business sector and its readiness to seize emerging growth opportunities,” he said.

“It is heartening to see positive momentum across key sectors, which reflects improved sentiment and growing trust in the country’s economic direction.”

Hussain said there must be greater policy consistency, transparency and active engagement with key stakeholders, including OICCI members, to maintain this growing positivity in the business confidence.

The BCI Wave 27 survey revealed increased optimism for the next six months, with 45 percent of the respondents expressing positive expectations.

“Key contributors to this positive outlook include economic growth, improved government policies, investment climate,” the survey report read.

“Despite the positive trend, 53 percent of the survey respondents reported a negative outlook on business conditions over the past six months, which is a substantial improvement from 66 percent negative sentiments in Wave 26. The key concerns indicated in the survey related to political stability, Rupee FX parity, Energy, and trade policies.”

The BCI of foreign investors, who OICCI members randomly selected for the survey, showed a remarkable increase from positive 6 percent to 17 percent, according to the findings.

This improvement is primarily attributed to better global business climate, an improved industry environment in Pakistan over the past six months, and expectations of increased capital investment in the coming six months.

“The latest BCI Wave 27 results were better than anticipated, with positive expectations reflected across all major sectors. Employment prospects, expansion plans, and investment expectations demonstrated notable gains, particularly in the Manufacturing and Retail sectors,” OICCI Secretary-General Abdul Aleem said.

“Despite notable improvement on the overall BCI, the new investment plans overall showed an improvement of 19 percent, but remained negative, which is an area of concern and needs to be addressed to further accelerate economic growth, energize large-scale manufacturing, trade and export.”