Owners of exotic animals can keep them in special Sharjah farms

SHARJAH // Owners of exotic wild animals can now keep them in special farms, available for rent from the Sharjah government.

The farms, which will be monitored by the Environment and Natural Reserves Authority, are operated under strict criteria and conditions.

The creation of the farms follows a ruling banning ownership of dangerous animals in Sharjah.

The director general of the Environment and Natural Reserves Authority in Sharjah, Hana Al Suwaidi, said that the farms are located behind Al Sajaa in an uninhabited area, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic language sister paper of The National.

“These farms are under the authority’s control provided all animals are licensed and registered at the Ministry of Environment. Owners are required to provide a list of animals in their possession as well as an extensive database for each animal. Three large farms have already been allocated to three citizens that own a large number of predatory animals,” she said.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, also issued a decree on the establishment of the Masnad Nature Reserve, to be run by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, reported Wam.