These rulers chose conservation over construction during a recent tour…

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has a reputation as an animal lover, thanks to the myriad snaps he shares of himself getting up close and personal with creatures of the world.

However a recent encounter has demonstrated just what he’ll do in the name of conservation.

The Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai was shown touring a construction site in Dubai in a video this week, along with HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

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As they moved through the sandy climes, the pair stumbled upon an endangered houbara bustard, as the clip posted by Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, shows.

قصه “نفق” أشارككم بما عرفته في دبي بالأمس،، سيدي صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد وسيدي صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد “الله يحفظهم” وأثناء لقاءهم قبل أسبوع في دبي، وخلال تجوالهم في إحدى الغابات كانت المعدات تعمل على إنجاز نفق لممارسة الرياضة. وعندها لاحظوا وجود “حبارى” ترقد على بيضها في موقع الإنشاء. فأمروا بتحويل موقع العمل بالمشروع إلى الطرف الآخر من الموقع حتى يفقس بيضها. كم نحن محظوظين برعاية الخالق عز وجل في هذا الوطن الغالي ومن ثم حرص قيادته الاستثنائية

A post shared by سيف بن زايد (@sbzalnahyan) on

The rare bird was actually laying eggs within the project site so, to preserve the species, the royal ordered construction to be moved to another location, What’s On Dubai reports.

The isn’t the first time both leaders have worked to help the houbara – one of the UAE’s national emblems – either.

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HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has actually set up an organisation for the rare birds’ protection, named the International Fund for Houbara Conservation.

The funds aims to increase the bird’s population and relocate them around the region, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has joined the IFHC to help release houbaras into the environment.

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Image: Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nayhan/Instagram