With the Middle East becoming a commercial, business and tourist hub many places and islands in the region have been developed as resorts. Abu Dhabi is a much sought after destination and resorts in Abu Dhabi offer up market facilities combined with great settings. If you are seeking luxury, picturesque settings combined with Arabian ambience then Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort would be an exciting choice. Sir Bani Yas Island lies 170 km southwest of Abu Dhabi and is the largest natural Island in the UAE. The name Bani Yas comes from the earliest tribal inhabitants of Abu Dhabi. The island has been home to a wildlife park since 1977 when it was established by the late UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as part of his ‘Greening The Desert Program’. He recognised the importance of preserving wildlife at risk of extinction in the UAE and Arabian Peninsula He also banned hunting on Sir Bani Yas Island in 1977.
The Wildlife Park covers more than half the island and is 1400ha in extent. In addition to breeding and rehabilitation, the park offers the benefit of free roaming to thousands of animals approximately around 13,000. The endangered Arabian Oryx, hyenas, gazelles, ostriches including Somali ostriches, cheetahs, giraffes and Beisa Oryx live here. Several species declared as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature inhabit Sir Bani Yas Island. They include turtles, Arabian Oryx, Urial and Barbary sheep. Thousands animals have been released from Sir Bani Yas Island to other regional wildlife parks including the one in the Lima desert. Visitors to the wild life park can also enjoy nature drives and walks, horse riding, mountain biking etc. The wildlife park is also home to many birds.
Research and conservation efforts at the park are aimed at creating diverse, suitable habitats for the island’s wildlife and bird species with the aim of finding a working system for the natural interaction within species and between them. The introduction of predators like cheetahs is part of the effort to maintain a balance within the park and ensure there isn’t an over population issue.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.
