Muscat: The Centre for Rehabilitation and Propagation of Wildlife in the Wilayat of Barka, in the Governorate of South Al Batinah is considered one of the important centres concerned with the preservation and propagation of wildlife in Oman.
A statement issued online by the Oman News Agency (ONA), said: "The centre which was established in 2001, is located in the rear side of the Barka Public Park, where the centre’s land area is estimated at 33,000 square metres and is supervised by the Environment Department in the Governorate of South Al Batinah."
The Centre seeks to preserve wildlife and birds from all over Oman and works to save, rehabilitate and propagate the local wildlife species in their natural environments and help them return to their original habitat.
Talal bin Nasser Al-Khudhairi, the Administrative Supervisor said that, the centre aims to provide medical care to infected animals and birds and rehabilitate them in addition to their propagation and care. The centre also provides advice, guidance and awareness to citizens who raise wild life.
Speaking of the work and target species, Talal Al-Khudhairi said that the centre has succeeded in propagation programs for the Arabian deer, oryx and reem gazelle, in addition to species of confiscated raptors.
He added that the target species in the centre is the Arabian deer, which the centre began implementing its propagating programs in 2005, by bringing in 16 Arab deer from the pen located in the As Sulayyil Nature Reserve in the Al Sharqiyah South Governorate for the purpose of breeding and resettling them in their natural habitats.
"In 2013, 60 Arabian oryx were transferred from the Maternity Centre of the Royal Court Affairs to the Ministry's propagation Centre, while 5 Reem gazelles were transferred in 2013 from the Maternity Center of the Royal Court Affairs to the Ministry's propagation Center with the aim of resettling them in their natural habitats," Talal Al-Khudhairi added.