All about Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre in Sharjah

The sight of animals in their natural habitats is interesting. a setting that makes different animal species feel at home. For its 30 native species of wild and nocturnal animals, the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre offers just that kind of habitat. The Conservation Center is the ideal destination for those who enjoy the outdoors and is situated in Sharjah at the foot of the Hajar Mountains. Here is all the information you require regarding this animal refuge, which is a hidden gem.

Overview

Numerous animal species that are endemic to the nearby mountains and deserts can be found at the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Center. It has both indoor and outdoor exhibitions and is 12 square kilometers in size.

The conservation program, which reflects the UAE's commitment to saving endangered species, is overseen by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA).

• A striped hyena and a critically endangered Arabian leopard are kept in the park. Last seen in the UAE in 2002, the latter.
• Wolves, tahr, and a desert lynx are some of the center's other endangered animals.

Visitors may view the animals in their natural habitat since they are housed in huge, beautifully designed enclosures that mimic their natural habitat. Additionally, there is an indoor animal park with smaller creatures like hedgehogs, lizards, snakes, and big scorpions.

Experience

Children and nature lovers can enjoy an amazing time at the reserve. The young ones can ask as many questions as they'd like on a guided tour. All of them will be answered gladly by the tour guide.

Large parties can rent golf carts or buggy rides to get around the center. Except for the height of summer, the weather in Kalba is often favorable for outdoor activities. Although it may be hot outside, guests won't need to worry because the center includes an air-conditioned hallway where they can watch the exterior enclosures.

Schedules and Tickets

• The Conservation Center's admission price and operating hours are as follows:
• Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;

Entry fee

• 15 AED for adults; kids under 12 can visit free of charge.

Kalba 

Kalba has long been renowned for its calm, tranquility, and regions of natural beauty. It is located far from the bright lights and skyscrapers of the United Arab Emirates' west coast. The Kalba Eco-Tourism Project, currently the largest eco-tourism initiative in the United Arab Emirates, seeks to build a sustainable foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. The government has nonetheless taken care to prioritize conservation.

Making the most of the area's natural attractions while minimizing the negative effects of tourism on the environment are the goals of the Government of Sharjah's strategic plan to build Kalba's tourism infrastructure, which is being led by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with regional authorities and Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA)?

Some hotel and tourism projects, including a five-star hotel, opulent tented resorts, tourist camping grounds, and other recreation places, are slated to be built outside the protected region. 

Al Hafiya 

Picnic Park, one of the initial initiatives, welcomed guests in 2015.In the meantime, the EPAA established the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Center and Protected Area nearby the Sharjah-Kalba route to preserve endangered animal species indigenous to the area's delicate mountain ecosystems and build a top-notch tourism destination. The Hajjar Mountains' 12 square kilometer animal conservation center, which prioritizes habitat restoration and preservation, education, rehabilitation, captive breeding, and research, borders the Hajjar Mountains. The Breeding Center for Endangered Arabian Animals (BCEAW) was founded by Sharjah, a longtime supporter of wildlife breeding programs, some 20 years ago.

The mountain conservation center offers tourist amenities and hires qualified guides who are available full-time to show guests around the reserve and answer their inquiries regarding the species of Arabia. The reserve is home to the critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), as well as other threatened species like the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the Arabian wolf (Canis lupus Arabs), the Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari), and the critically endangered Arabian tahr (Canis lupus Arabs). From the breeding stock supplied in 2012, the center has recently had remarkable success producing endangered Damani gazelles.

A variety of resident and migratory raptors can be found at the Kalba Bird of Prey Centre, which was established in 2014 and is located on the outskirts of Kalba town. Predators such as the Barn Owl, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, and Lappet-Faced Vulture can be viewed by center visitors. Visitors may catch daily live performances and bird-of-prey presentations during the winter.

Experts in environmental protection are cautiously enthusiastic about the outcomes of efforts to preserve the mangroves and wetlands in Kalba. Green turtles, logg

erhead turtles, and hawksbill turtles, as well as species that haven't been seen in the area in thirty years, have been counted by EPAA researchers over the previous two years on the Kalba coast and in the mangrove swamps. Plans call for a cutting-edge turtle rehabilitation facility that will provide long-term care, emergency care, research, monitoring, and managed access for tourists to observe the turtles.

Where Can I Find the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Center?

On the outskirts of Kalba, at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, is where you'll find the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Center. If you take the Sharjah-Kalba Road, it is about 130 miles east of Sharjah City.

What Are Sharjah's Most Popular Tourist Attractions?

The main tourist sites in Sharjah must be explored if you are a first-time visitor. These include Al Majaz Waterfront Park, Sharjah Desert Park, and Central Souq.