Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife

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The Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife (BCEAW) is a modern conservation, research and captive breeding facility speacilising in the unique fauna of the Arabian peninsula.

The BCEAW, along with another 3 facilities which comprise the Sharjah Desert Park, is the realisation of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qassimi's dream to presearve the natural fauna and flora of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates for future generations.

The BCEAW is unfortunately closed to the public but all of the animals which are held here can be seen at Arabia's Wildlife Centre. The Wildlife Centre houses and impressive varity of animals indegionous to the Arabian penisula and fully air conditioned, making it perfect for a day out with the family especially in summer.

For more information please call: +971 (0)6 531 1999 or email epaa@emirates.net.ae

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi

Productive Spring Season

On 8^th May, the first ever Arabian Tahr (Hemitragus jayakar) was born in an EAZA member institution. This birth was the result of the excellent cooperation between the Oman Mammal Breeding Centre in Muscat, the Endangered Wildlife Breeding and Conservation Centre in Al Ain and Arabia’s Wildlife Centre in Sharjah.

A male Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) was born on 20^th April and another Arabian leopard on 2^nd May. This latter birth is of particular significance as this is the first offspring of a new founder that was received on breeding loan from the Abu Dhabi Wildlife Centre. Arabia’s Wildlife Centre currently houses Arabian Leopards

A litter of 2 and a litter of 3 northeast African Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringhi) were born in April, all from unrepresented new founders. Arabia’s Wildlife Centre houses northeast African Cheetahs.

One red fox (Vulpes vulpes arabs), 2 Rueppels foxes (Vulpes ruepelli sabea) and 4 (1 DNS) Blanford’s Foxes (Vulpes cana) were born during the last months.

Three Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus), 18 Arabian Partridges (Alectoris melanocephala), 16 Philby’s Partridges ( Alectoris philbyi), 65 Chestnut bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus erlangeri) and 5 Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus) hatched. These latter are, together with the single offspring from 2 years ago probably a world’s first.

Arabia’s Wildlife Centre houses the largest collection of Arabian rodents, both in species and in specimens, anywhere in the world. That said the population explosion experianced in the last few months still came as a surprise: 1 Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica), 36 Lesser Jerboas (Jaculus jaculus), 34 Nile Rats (Arvicanthis niloticus), 10 Arabian Spiny Mouse (Acomys dimidiatus ssp.), 3 Golden Spiny Mice (Acomys russatus), 3 Turkish Spiny Mice (Acomys cilicius), 45 Baluchistan Gerbil (Gerbillus nanus), 23 Cheesman's Gerbils (Gerbillus cheesmani), 11 Lybian Jirds (Meriones lybicus), 15 Sundevall's Jirds (Meriones crassus), 27 Arabian Jirds (Meriones arimalius), 60 Indian Desert Jirds (Meriones hurrianae), 49 Bushy-tailed Jirds (Sekeetamys calurus) and 9 Fat-tailed Jirds (Pachyuromys duprasi).

10 Arabian Hare (Lepus capensis ssp.), 15 Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis jayakari)