Shawmari Wildlife Reserve

Shawmari Wildlife Reserve was established in 1975 with the aim of reintroducing wildlife which were once found in the region but had long since disappeared. This has been a very successful project, starting with just 11 of the rare white Arabian Oryx from various zoos, the park's herd grew to 236 individuals, enabling them to redistribute some of the herd to other parts of the Middle East. Today there are around 83 oryx as well as 40 ostrich and six onagers (a type of wild ass originating from the region). It is a very small park, but to see the incredible achievement of bringing these animals back from the brink of extinction is worth the journey out from Amman.