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| Al Areen Wildlife Park | |
|---|---|
| Name | Al Areen Wildlife Park |
| Location | Sakhir, Bahrain |
| Area | 7.5 km² |
| Opened | 1986 |
| Inhabitants | native and exotic species |
Al Areen Wildlife Park is a protected nature reserve and zoological park located near Sakhir in the Southern Governorate of Bahrain. Established in 1986 during the reign of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the park forms part of national efforts coordinated with agencies such as the Supreme Council for the Environment and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture (Bahrain), and interacts with international partners like the World Wide Fund for Nature, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The park was inaugurated by members of the Bahraini royal family and developed under plans influenced by conservation practices from institutions such as the Zoological Society of London, the San Diego Zoo and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, while receiving technical advice from the Smithsonian Institution and the United Nations Environment Programme. During the 1990s and 2000s the reserve expanded under national strategies associated with the Economic Vision 2030 (Bahrain) and projects linked to the Gulf Cooperation Council, drawing visits and partnerships with delegations from the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar.
The site occupies sandplain and sabkha landscapes representative of the Bahrain island physiography near the Sakhir Desert, adjacent to facilities such as the Bahrain International Circuit and routes connecting to Manama and Riffa. Habitats include arid scrub, salt flats, and managed freshwater pools informed by hydrological data from the Arabian Peninsula region and comparative studies with reserves like Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and Sir Bani Yas Island. The park’s microclimates and soil regimes are monitored using techniques adopted from the American Society of Agronomy and the International Soil Reference and Information Centre.
Collections emphasize Arabian oryx and Arabian gazelle lineages alongside reintroduced species such as the sand gazelle and regional endemics comparable to populations in the Empty Quarter and the Hajar Mountains. Exotic displays include individuals related to taxa maintained at the London Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and the Frankfurt Zoological Garden, with captive breeding programs for species comparable to Persian fallow deer and addax. Botanical features showcase Acacia tortilis, Zygophyllum qatarense relatives, and planted palms from lineages similar to those in Palmyra and the Negev Desert, informed by studies from institutions like the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Al Areen’s captive-breeding and reintroduction programs operate alongside international conservation frameworks such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and draw on methodologies from the Global Environment Facility and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Research collaborations have involved universities and institutes comparable to King's College London, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, Colorado State University, and regional scientific centers such as the Arabian Gulf University, focusing on population genetics, disease ecology, and habitat restoration analogous to projects at the Houbara Bustard conservation initiatives and Arabian Oryx reintroduction programs. Veterinary partnerships mirror standards from the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Royal Veterinary College.
Public facilities combine exhibit zones, guided trails, and educational centers modeled after visitor services at the Smithsonian National Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and the Singapore Zoo, offering interpretive signage, captive-holding enclosures, and aviaries similar to those at the Raptor rehabilitation centers. The park provides guided tours, family amenities, and special programming timed with cultural events like the Eid al-Fitr celebrations and seasonal festivals connected to the Bahrain International Airshow calendar, while coordinating ticketing and outreach with entities such as the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority and hospitality partners including Gulf Air and regional hotel groups.
Oversight is administered through national bodies linked to the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and receives financing from state allocations, charitable foundations like the Bahrain Development Bank-affiliated initiatives, and cooperative grants from international donors analogous to those from the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. Strategic planning references conservation financing models used by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and governance practices comparable to those of institutes such as the Zoological Association of America and regional regulatory frameworks in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Category:Protected areas of Bahrain Category:Zoos established in 1986