Egypt, Jordan to establish wildlife shelter in Fayoum

Egypt seeks to establish a wildlife park in Wadi El-Rayan reserve in Fayoum, in cooperation with Jordan’s Al-Mawa, Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad said on Monday.

The announcement came after Fouad’s visit to Jordanian city of Jerash in the norther parts of the country, as she incepted Al-Mawa for Nature and Wildlife, a shelter responsible for protecting predatory animal who are at risk of extinction.

The project will have the name Safe Haven for Wildlife in Wadi El-Rayan reserve, and will help start ecotourism in Egypt, according to Fouad.

The reserve is almost 1,800 square km, and it includes two lakes joined by waterfalls. The reserve is home to various wildlife animals including gazelles, foxes, rare migrant and resident birds.

Fouad also said that the project will help maintain endangered animals in a safe place to create biodiversity and to support in the adaptation to climate change.

The Jordanian shelter includes a variety of wildlife animals such as bear, hyenas, tigers, and lions brought from conflict zones and are now living in the shelter with excellent health.

Al-Mawa was established in 2011 through a partnership between the Princess Alia Foundation and the Vienna-based organization Four Paws, to provide a solution for rescued wild animals.