Anybody ever visited this place? It is private zoo of sheikh in Qatar. It apparently has most incredibly rare animals, like Spix and Lear's macaws, several birds of paradise, beira antelopes etc. Are they willing to cooperate with other zoos?
Yep, It is a private facility not open to the general public. You must know the management to even begin to think of being allowed entry. Regarding inter-zoo cooperation. Al Wabra has recently been accepted as a member institution of EAZA (about time though! ... I sincerely hope Al Ain Zoo, Abu Dhabi is the next in line). They have sent over Speke's gazelles in considerable numbers to the SSP for infusion of new bloodlines into the US (inbred) stocks for outbreeding. Similarly, the cooperate both with EAZA and AZA on sand cat transfers and cooperative breeding participation. The Somali wild asses are also coming out of the EEP population (and I expect quite soonish they will join their first EEP with them). Similar set up with Arabian oryx (Tierpark Berlin, Zuerich et al origins). If you need more info, sent me a pm! Jelle
Never been but they also got first captive breeding of Flame Bowerbird a few years ago. If don't know that species see this photo on this page from wild: http://www.tropicalbirding.com/newguinea.html Almost psychedelic.
There have been posts in this forum that has referred to this place -- Spix macaws were discussed . But I dont think these posts actually shed much light on the actual place
I know it's hardly a substitute for a visit, but the website has some interesting information. Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation Alan
Very intresting web site seem to be doing quite alot of things right here tobred some unusual species.
New Somali Wild Ass Stallions at Al Wabra. The Al Wabra WP has finally imported 2.0 unrelated Somali wild ass stallions from Montpellier Zoo. These will substitute for the male stallion currently with the harem. It is to be hoped that the addition of these 2.0 stallions will hopefully enable setting up 2separate breeding groups. Al Wabra currently has 5.8 wild ass in the collection (with 3 recorded births this year). Incidentally, Montpellier Zoo which had a couple of stallions to gain experience with the Somalis, now also runs a pair (so in all 16/19 collections hold breeding groups within EAZA)!
I had a look on ISIS and found the Al Wabra Lear's and Spix's macaws listed - lots of them - did not check for other species though .
If you look on Al Wabra's own website there's a lot of information on Spix, plus some tables showing the birds they currently hold- I think it is 50 at present, by far the greatest percentage of the world population.
After a construction period of eight months, three additional spacious enclosures for the six cheetahs currently kept at AWWP have been finally completed. These three enclosures have doubled the number of enclosures to six. A total area of 7000 m² is now available for the felids. Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation
Between 15 and 29 October last year 3.1 Somali wild ass were born at the park, sired by Hector, imported from Montpellier zoo in 2008. AWWP now holds 18 animals in total.
The Al Wabra 'Facebook' page reports that a severe storm has hit Qatar, and there has been flooding at the Al Wabra site. However, "all birds are safe and sound, everyone is okay". Hopefully the reference just to birds doesn't mean there were casualties amongst the mammals.
On their Facebook-site Al Wabra mention their first breeding of the Bulwer pheasant - a very rare species !
Al Wabra.... Not of course a 'world first' as it was bred in Mexico in the 1970s. Kept in collections intermittently since the 1930's, but generally a non-breeder.
I know it's not a world-first and I didn't say that but it's a first for Al Wabra and at the moment I think they are one of very few ( if any at all ! ) keeping ( and now also ) breeding this species. By the way I'm very aware it's not a world-first because I bred it myself during the time I worked at Walsrode !!!!
Best breeding year ever with the birds of paradise : at least 1 Lesser at least 1 Greater at least 2 Red at least 1 King Photos from their Facebook-site : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.351075781662837.1073741827.240937542676662&type=1
Somali cheetas bred at Al Wabra : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.399032733533808.1073741836.240937542676662&type=1
2 videos about a male Flame bower bird : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151834773312846&set=vb.240937542676662&type=3&theater https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151834789992846&set=vb.240937542676662&type=3&theater
