Al Areen Wildlife Park
Artificial pond present in the park
Map
26°00′56″N 50°29′44″E / 26.01556°N 50.49556°E / 26.01556; 50.49556
Date opened1976 (1976)
LocationSakhir, Bahrain
Land area7 km sq
No. of species50 (2017)
Annual visitors323,286 (2017)
WebsiteAl Areen Official Website

Al Areen Wildlife Park (Arabic: محمية العرين; transliterated: Maḥmīyat al-ʿArīn) is a nature reserve and zoo, located in Sakhir, Bahrain. It is one of five other protected areas in the country and it is the only designated protected area on land, in the country.[1]

History and profile

The park covers a total area of 7 km sq and was first established in 1976.[2] Species native to Bahrain, both plants and animals, as well as species originating from Africa, south Asia are present in the zoological park. In 2013, the park attracted 199,235 visitors to the park.[3][4]

As of 1999, the park was attached to the ministry of cabinet affairs and information.[5]

Directions in the park

Attractions

The park features 100,000 planted flora and trees, & more than 45 species of animals, 82 species of birds and 25 species of flora.[6] Species that roam the nature reserve section of the park include the Arabian oryx, which is extinct in the wild, South African cheetah, lion, Savannah monitor, African rock python, Persian gazelle, springbok, African wild dog, Spotted hyena, saluki dogs,[7] impala, fallow deer, Chapman's zebra, Honey badger and desert hares.[8] Arabian and North African species such as the scimitar-horned oryx, addax (which is rare in the wild), dama gazelle, giraffes, Nubian ibex, wild goat, barbary sheep and Asiatic onager are also present.[9] The park also employs a captive breeding policy of endangered species.[10]

The Al Areen area covers a total area of 800 hectares, divided into two 400-hectares sections; one section dedicated to the public while the other section is a protected reserve, equipped with two surface reservoirs for flora and fauna.[11] The park has undergone multiple renovations in the previous decade, adding an aviary and an Arabian wild animals complex. A falcon stadium and petting zoo was opened in 2014 under the sponsorship of Viva Bahrain.[12]

Access

The reserve is restricted, except for specialists, researchers, veterinarians and the animals’ keepers.[13] Entrance to the reserve area of the park is prohibited unless prior permission is obtained.[8] Public access to the park's animals is provided by tour-buses from the main entrance. The park itself is a 40-minute drive from Manama, connected by a highway,[14] and is located adjacent to Bahrain International Circuit.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Towards a Bahrain National Report to the convention on Biological Diversity" (PDF). International Mountains Consultancy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  2. ^ (Date of establishment mentioned) (17 May 2007). "ABD750,000 for Al Areen renovation". Gulf Daily News. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  3. ^ "12/01/14". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Facelift for Al Areen". Gulf Daily News. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  5. ^ Joseph Casas, Mahmoud Solh and Hala Hafez (1999). The National Agricultural Research Systems in the West Asia and North Africa Region. ICARDA. p. 219. ISBN 978-92-9127-096-5. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  6. ^ The Report: Bahrain 2011. Oxford Business Group. 2011. p. 10. ISBN 1907065393.
  7. ^ "Saluki dogs at Al Areen Park". Gulf Daily News. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Al Areen Wildlife Park". Bahrain WaterPark. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve". GoMideast. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  10. ^ World Directory of Environmental Organizations. Earthscan. 1996. p. 130. ISBN 185383307X.
  11. ^ Kannan, A. (2011). Global Environmental Governance and Desertification: A Study of Gulf Cooperation Council Countries. Concept. p. 272. ISBN 8180698483.
  12. ^ "Al Areen Wildlife Park showcases 'VIVA Traditional Garden'". bizbahrain. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  13. ^ "About Al Areen - History".
  14. ^ Walker, Jenny (2010). Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula. Lonely Planet. pp. 124. ISBN 1741791456.
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