Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve
The Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is a breeding and reacclimation center administered by the Israel Nature Reserves & National Parks Authority, situated in the Southern Arabah near Yotvata.
The Yotvata Hai-Bar is the desert counterpart of the Carmel Hai-Bar Nature Reserve which operates in the country's Northern Mediterranean forest.
Endangered and locally extinct animals mentioned in the Bible are bred here for possible reintroduction to the Negev desert. The Asian wild ass has already been reintroduced in the Makhtesh Ramon into the wild. In addition the park has some rare desert animals, which are not native to Israel, like the scimitar oryx and the Red-necked ostrich from northern Africa.
Some of the species bred here are:
- Arabian oryx
- Scimitar oryx
- Red-necked ostrich
- Addax
- Asian wild ass
- Somali wild ass
- Caracal
- Arabian sand cat
- Arabian leopard
- South African cheetah
- Arabian wolf
- Dorcas gazelle
- Griffon vulture
- Nubian ibex
- Persian leopard
- Striped hyena