Living Compound in Jeddah Provides Hidden Animal Sanctuary for Birds, Fish, and Reptiles

A living compound in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was found to host a hidden living animal sanctuary for birds, fish, and reptiles. The animal sanctuary is built in a public park in the city where the animals' caretakers reconstruct their natural habitat.

In spite of its uniqueness, the sanctuary in Jeddah is part of a multitude of animal sanctuaries in the world. Still, there are instances in which not all animal sanctuaries are considered to be conducive for animals.

Hidden Animal Sanctuary

(Photo : Bruce Bennett via Getty Images)

The hidden Animal Sanctuary in Jeddah consists of various rescued animals, including birds, turtles, tortoises, iguanas, and other species, as per Arab News. The sanctuary owner, Kane Tison, reportedly grew up in Jeddah and is said to be collecting and rescuing animals since childhood.

According to Arab News, Tison had a hard time recreating the animals' natural habitat, including the trees, water flow, and plants. The sanctuary also ensures that a certain animal species is not alone in its enclosure.

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Wildlife Animal Sanctuary

The animal sanctuary in Jeddah is one of the many safe havens for animals worldwide. However, there are instances when some animal sanctuaries deprive animals of their well-being. A wildlife animal sanctuary or wildlife sanctuary differs from a zoo; wherein both differ in their primary objectives.

According to National Geographic, wildlife animal sanctuaries specialize in sheltering and taking care of wild animals that were abused, neglected, or abandoned. Unlike zoos which are created to specifically exhibit animals to the public, sanctuaries are established to save animals at risk.

In the United States, there are cases where people call their places animal sanctuaries, but in fact engage in illegal breeding or selling of animals, according to the American Sanctuary Association (ASA), as cited by National Geographic.

Aside from a wildlife animal sanctuary, other safe havens for animals can take in the form of farm sanctuary, which also protects and shelters farm animals, including chickens, cows, and pigs.

Animal Sanctuary: Real or Not Real?

Due to the dangers posed by some animal sanctuaries worldwide, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) provided the following factors to consider below in determining whether an animal sanctuary is real or not:

•  Animals housed with poor material and concrete floor can be a red flag.
•  An animal sanctuary must foster both physical and psychological stimulation of the animal.
•  There should be enough space for animals to explore, move, climb, and forage.
•  No sanctuaries must allow physical contact between visitors and animals.
•  A real sanctuary provides a permanent home for animals who were deprived of care.

Furthermore, PETA primarily noted that a person should take into account how a sanctuary acquired an animal. This is due to the fact that animals inside sanctuaries can either come from circuses, zoos, laboratories, or other industries that have exploited them, says PETA.

Over recent years, animal rights groups and organizations have called for the protection of animals at sanctuaries, zoos, and farms.

PETA has called for a halt in using animals for entertainment purposes, including thousands of circus apes, elephants, bears, and others.

Animal activists and groups have also in the US and other countries have called for more stringent policies on animal protection.

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