Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
A large island in the Gulf of Aden to the west of Socotra, c.32 km long, less than 5 km wide and rising to c.570 m, with c.90 km of shoreline.
See table for key species. There are unspecified seabirds, probably breeding. It is said that the island is visited by many small birds on summer migration from May to August.
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: Hemidactylus forbesii, H. oxyrhinus, Pristurus abdelkuri (all endemic). Flora: there are at least ten endemic species.
Vegetation is much sparser than on Socotra, dominated by low, open shrubland and dwarf-herb communities containing
Euphorbia. There is a diminishing permanent human population supported by brackish water only; the main human activities are grazing livestock (goats) and fishing.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Seabirds are taken for food by local people. No other information is available on current problems or potential threats.
Updates.
Threats: Rats and possibly cats, but not assessed. Oil spillage would be a threat to nesting seabirds.
Data-sheets compiled by Francine Stone (assisted by Dr A. Miller and Dr M. Morris) and M. I. Evans.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Abd al-Kuri (Socotra) (Yemen). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/abd-al-kuri-(socotra)-iba-yemen on 23/12/2024.
