In 1988 it was officially announced as a national park. Still, after the gulf war, it was cleared from mines and re-fenced and opened officially on 3rd March 2004, and named after the late Amir, Sabah Al-Ahmad Natural Reserve, due to his efforts to protect the environment.
It is located along Subiya road which cuts it into two parts, coastal and desert sections. It is north of Kuwait Bay, and Jahra City as can be seen on the map above.
The desert section contains a stretch of Jal Al-Zor escarpments, flat deserts, and small wadis. The coastal section contains subkhas and rocky deserts. In the subkha grows some bushes such as tamarisk and halophyte plants.
There are more than 250 bird species recorded in Sabah Al Ahmad Natural Reserve. Macqueen’s Bustard used to winter in small numbers. Hume’s Wheatear, Mongolian Finch, Radde’s Accentor, Crowned and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Asian Shikra, Dunn’s Lark, and Caspian Plover are all recorded in the reserve.
Breeding resident birds include Little Owl, Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Brown-necked Raven, and about nine species of larks. Wintering birds include Eurasian Skylark, Bimaculated Larks, and Oriental Skylark. Woodchat Shrike and Yellow-throated Sparrow have bred at Tulha, while Pale Rockfinch has bred along the wadis in the reserve.
During migration, Tulha, which is inside Sabah Al Ahmad Natural Reserve, which has two pools and trees becomes a stopover place for migrating passerines and raptors. During the autumn heat, many eagles and buzzards drop from the sky to quench their thirst from the pools, and then continue their migration.
Below are photographs from inside the reserve after good winter rain. (click on photographs to see a larger version of each photograph)
Sabah Al-Ahmad Natural Reserve showing annual plant in 2010
