Jacques René Renaud

Known for his passion for wildlife and falconry, Jacques Renaud played a key role in supporting the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, who actively advocated sustainable environmental practices.

With Jacques Renaud’s expertise, the UAE established a captive breeding program for the Houbara bustard bird, continually bolstering the population of this endangered species.

Notably, with increased numbers of the Houbara assured through these efforts, the important Bedouin tradition of falconry is now practiced in a sustainable manner.

Jacques Renaud also helped establish a mechanism to track the Houbara bustard using satellite-tracking devices, supporting the research efforts of avian experts in the UAE.

Jacques Renaud’s notable list of accomplishments includes supporting the establishment of the Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation in the Kingdom of Morocco in 1995, and the development of the National Avian Research Center in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.

Over recent years, these efforts mean that almost 70,000 Houbara bustards annually are bred and released in the UAE, Morocco and Kazakhstan.