Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Zabargad (or St John) is small triangular island rising abruptly from deep water in the Red Sea to about 235 m, some 60 km south-east of Ras Banas. It is geologically unique, amongst the Red Sea islands, in being composed of uplifted mantle and lower crustal metamorphic rocks. Vegetation is scant and mainly limited to halophytic flora.
See Box for key species. Eight bird species have been found breeding:
Sula leucogaster,
Platalea leucorodia,
Falco concolor,
Larus leucophthalmus,
Sterna caspia,
Sterna bengalensis,
Sterna anaethetus and
Sterna repressa. In October 1994, about 150 pairs of
Falco concolor were found breeding on the island, representing a significant proportion of the world population.
Non-bird biodiversity: Marine life: The island is surrounded by some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the Egyptian Red Sea. Reptiles: Remains of ‘hundreds’ of marine turtles were found in December 1997, which probably come to the island to nest, most likely involving Chelonia mydas (EN).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Zabargad is part of the Elba National Park, which was declared by Prime Ministerial Decree 450/1986, adjusted by Prime Ministerial Decree 1186/1986 and Prime Ministerial Decree 642/1995. The number of tourists visiting this island and its surrounding reefs increased dramatically in the past few years and started to degrade the coral reefs in the area and increase disturbance to nesting birds on the island. This led the EEAA, in collaboration with the coast guard, to close the area to visitors for about a year until better controls on human activities were in place.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zabargad island (Egypt). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zabargad-island-iba-egypt on 23/11/2024.
