Al Ma'wa: A New Hope for Wildlife in Jordan
Al Ma'wa Wildlife Sanctuary Grounds
Al Ma'wa Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Jerash, 50km north of Amman. It is situated in the protected Aljoun National forest. During construction the enclosures were built into the landscape, removing as few trees and natural features as possible. This provides the animals with lots of trees, rocks, and native vegetation to live in.
Kahrba, along with Dana, Halab and Hamzeh, were rescued from Magic World Zoo in Aleppo, Syria in 2017 shortly after the city was liberated from Isis.
Ashad shares a long look with Tash, one of the Bengal Tigers at Al Ma'wa. Tash was rescued, with his sibling Sky, from the trunk of a car at the Jordanian border when they was 6 months old. Ashad hand-raised the two tigers until they were old enough to live in the enclosures. They still remember him and follow him on his fence patrols.
Enrichment activity for Nina and Asal
Enrichment is an important daily activity at Al Ma'wa. It both provides entertainment for the animals, let's them use some of their natural instincts and also helps some of the traumatized animals heal. Professioanl animal behavorists design enrichment activities that build confidence in the newly arrived animals. For the lions, deer and donkey limbs are often hidden in trees where they need to climb or jump to reach them. Here Nina and Asal are enjoying a deer leg. Many of the lions at Al Ma'wa were rescued from a zoo in Aleppo, Syria.
The Team Organizes Enclosure Cleaning
The morning animal caretakers organize the enclosure cleaning and feeding at the section that houses the lions rescued from a zoo in Aleppo, Syria. Featured here: Ahmad Musabbeh, Zaid Alataum, Saif Rwwashdeh, and Ashad (who requested his last name not be used).
The 3 large enclosures in this section of Al Ma'wa contain the lions rescued from the Magic World zoo in Aleppo, Syria. Pictured here is preparations for the morning feedings. Al Ma'wa is situated on protected lands near the Aljoun National Forest.
Sky is one of the two Bengal Tigers at Al Ma'wa. Along with her sibling, Tash, she was rescued from the back of the truck in 2013 on the Jordan-Saudia Arabian border.
Ahmad Musabbeh and Khalid examining the enclosure fences. This task is completed every morning, with the full length of fencing being walked around all enclosures. This is an important job that ensures both the main fencing and the electric fencing are working properly.
Khalid and Zaid inspect Pablo’s fencing of his enclosure to ensure that the fence isn’t damaged in any sections and the electricity is running at the proper voltage. Twice a day the entire perimeter of fencing for all ensures is checked for quality and proper electrical output.
Ahmad Musabbeh collects prepared pieces of frozen donkey meat to use the day’s lion feedings. Al Ma’wa has a cold storage to store meat for the animal feedings.
Saif Rwwashdeh cleans and prepare a donkey leg to be used as enrichment for lions Nina, Asal and Simba. Al Ma’wa receives donations of deceased donkeys, deer and horses from the local villages surrounding Al Ma’wa. These animals often serve as enrichment to supplement the carnivores’ diet of cow meat.
Preparing Lion and Tiger Meals
Preparing the daily feeding for the lions, tigers and bears. The lions and tigers are fed every 3 days to more closely simulate hoe they eat in the wild. The bears are fed twice a day in a more foraging style. All animals receive daily enrichment and treats.
Zaid Prepares for the Daily Feeding
3 days a week the lions are fed to simulate how lions would eat and digest food in the wild. Daily the bears and tigers are fed. Also, daily enrichment activities and treats are prepared for all animals. Featured here the animal caretakers are preparing a morning meal for the lions, tigers and bears.
Balou, a Syrian Brown Bear, is featured here enjoying a deer head as a treat. When black-tailed deer die of natural causes in the Aljou National Forest they are donated to the sanctuary to be used as food and enrichment treats. Balou was rescued from a zoo in Jordan, was the founding animal at Al Ma'wa and the inspiration for building a wildlife sanctuary here. He is particularly fond of deer heads. It is hoped that he and another Syrian Brown Bear, named Lula, can be integrated. Lula was rescued from the Mosul zoo, where she suffered horrendous trauma. It is hoped that through responsible integration and socializing these two bears can help each other heal.
Derek the Zebra visiting the office
The animal caretakers are always trying to find new, creative ways to provide enrichment and healing activities for the animals. Zaid Alataum had the creative idea of building a zebra, with his wife and kids, from white cardboard and then filling the center piece with spices, hay and bits of meat. He thought it would be an exciting activity for the lions Max and Muna, who were rescued from a zoo in Gaza.
Zaid With His Enrichment Creation Derek
Animal caretaker Zaid Alataum, along with his wife and children, built Derek the cardboard Zebra as an enrichment item for the lions. They are in the back of the truck ready to transport Derek to the lions Max and Muna.
Max enjoying pounching on Derek the paper Zebra. Zaid's enrichment project turned out to be a success.
The Keepers Share A Moment of Laughter
Animal keepers Ahmad Musabbeh, Zaid Alataum, Saif Rwwashdeh, and Ashad (share a moment of laughter inbetween monitoring all the rescued animals and cleaning their enclosures.
Zaid Alataum and Khalid (who wished not to have his last name published) cleaning one of the bear pools. Every day the bear pools are emptied of water, scrubbed down and refilled. The bears always have access to swim and stay cool in the clean water.
Enrichment of a donkey leg being placed in the enclosure of lions Nina, Asal and Simba.
Tash bringing down a piece of meat enrichment left up in a tree in his enclosure. Since Bengal Tigers climb trees, the animal caretaker leave enrichment treats hidden in trees to keep the tigers mentally stimulated. Tash and Sky are two Bengal Tigers at Al Ma’wa rescued from the back of the truck in 2013 on the Jordan-Saudia Arabian border.
Nina lives with Simba and Asal. She was confiscated by RSCN (Jordan's Royal Conservation of Nature) when she was 2 days old after she was illegally traded from a local Jordanian zoo.