These are the adjectives that come to mind as one walks through the dimly-lit rooms of the Arabian Wildlife Centre, also called the Sharjah Desert Park. The variety makes one wonder with fear and fascination if the Arabian region truly has such diverse, terrifying and exotic wildlife. True to its name, the Centre only houses Arabian fauna.
Visitors have to maneouvre their way through a thick curtain of ropes to get into the Aviary.
The thick ropes prevent the birds from leaving their little habitat, all furnished with trees, rocks, a waterfall, and a tiny lake. The efforts taken by the Sharjah government to ensure that these animals have large spaces to run around in will be a source of great comfort to animal rights activists. The environment created is similar to a scanty forest furnished with huge rocks, desert sand, water and plenty of space. The authorities have also kept in mind the comfort of the visitors. While the wild animals roam in the open park outside, visitors view them from the air-conditioned interior.