The Special Forces for Environmental Security (SPES) announced on Sunday the arrest of three individuals for breaching the country’s environmental laws. Ahmed Suleiman Maqbool Al-Sharari and Zahir Dhaif Allah Muslim Al-Sharari were detained for illegal hunting within the King Salman Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR). They were caught with a firearm, live ammunition, and a rabbit. The penalties for their actions include a $21,300 fine for hunting without a license, a $1,330 fine for hunting during prohibited periods, and a $4,790 fine for capturing wild rabbits.
The KSRNR, Saudi Arabia’s largest natural reserve covering 130,000 sq. km, is renowned for its geographic and heritage diversity, with rare monuments dating back to 8,000 B.C.
In a separate case, another citizen was arrested for arson in the northwestern province of Hail. The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, set fire to vegetation cover and faces fines up to $799.
The SPES urges the public to assist in protecting the environment by reporting violations to 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 and 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.