Originally designed and built for the conservation and research of endangered Arabian wildlife the BCEAW has also become a temporary home for a wide variety of other animals. These animals have usually been imported illegally and subsequently confiscated by the customs officials at various ports of entry throughout the United Arab Emirates.

Generally confiscations are made when the animal/s in question fall under CITES and/or are imported without the required Permits and Veterinary Certificates. Almost all the confiscated animals are wild-caught and a large percentage of them are endangered, for these reasons, regardless of their origins they are kept at the Breeding Centre until a decision about their future can be made.

One of the options would simply be to return them to their place of origin; unfortunately this is not always possible. A second option would be to keep the animals until they can be placed in more suitable collections, but this is sometimes very difficult as some of the species are common in captivity and offer nothing to the existing captive population. A third option would be to include them in our collection, but this can only take place if the species range falls within the Arabian peninsula even then the availability of space needs to be considered. The fourth and final option, only used where there is no alternative or the animals in question pose a serious health risk, is that of euthanasia.

The animals come from many different locations but most have been confiscated at the normal ports of entry including Sharjah International Airport, Port Khalid in Sharjah and Khor Fakkan Port. The confiscation of live animals through these ports all falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

Mammals, reptiles, chelonians and insects brought in to the Breeding Centre are housed in cages prepared for quarantine. As many of the animals brought illegally into the country pose a safety risk to the animals and staff at the Breeding Centre, some of these animals are euthanased and their bodies disposed of before they reach the Breeding Centre. These high risk animals include primates as they pose a risk of passing on infectious diseases to staff. Many of the animals have also been travelling for some time and are in poor body condition and require urgent veterinary attention on arrival. Some of the animals are also still very young and extra nursing care is required to raise the animals.

Confiscated birds, especially raptors and bustards are sent to the National Avian Research Centre (NARC), Sweihan in Abu Dhabi where they are quarantined and cared for until such time that a decision can be made as to their future. The Breeding Centre does not have suitable enclosures and quarantine facilities to look after the number of birds that come in to the Centre. An agreement between the Breeding Centre and NARC ensures that the birds housed in suitable facilities.

Unfortunately the animals are often transported in appalling conditions. Cramped, overcrowded boxes and crates are often used in an attempt to reduce costs, while other animals have been stuffed in the luggage to prevent discovery of the cargo. As a result a large percentage of the animals are lost during transit. Those that survive the ordeal are often dehydrated, malnourished and caked in their own faeces having spent the duration of the trip without food, water and insufficient space in which to move.