New Hope Treatment Centre

In January of 2010 the Princess Alia Foundation launched the New Hope Treatment Center, in order to provide medical care for animals. This came about in response to the dire needs which exist within the country and the region due to animals being kept in terrible conditions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Greater Amman Municipality and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature have teamed up in order to remedy the situation in the zoos in Jordan. After an initial assessment it was seen that many of the animals in these zoos were suffering from illnesses and/or severe stress related behavior, stereotypical of animals being kept in captivity.

The aim of the centre is to provide immediate emergency care for animals in need and to provide the animals with a safe and nurturing environment in which they may overcome stereotypical behaviours often associated with animals being kept in captivity and being mistreated. Upon completion of the treatment and rehabilitation, these animals will be rehomed in appropriate sanctuaries both locally (when dealing with native species) and internationally (for all non-native species).

Along with the support, guidance and expertise of Vier Pfoten (http://www.vier-pfoten.org/) and the support of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and Shirley Brine (from Australia), the centre was built in a matter of days after being informed by the government of the first set of confiscation from the local zoos, for those animals which were seen to be of immediate concern.
This was the site prior to work on day one…

By the early hours of the next morning…

The animals then started to arrive; a total of 28 animals were confiscated on the first day, the majority being Hyenas, also included were wolves, a lion cub and domestic dogs. After immediate treatment, some of the Hyenas were then transported to a nature reserve to begin their rehabilitation process working towards their release into the wild.

Four of the Hyenas were kept at the sanctuary as they were in need of ongoing medical treatment, two in particular had severe wounds to their neck and ears and surgery was conducted immediately.

Once settled all the animals began to adapt and recover. The foundation is working hard to provide placement of the animals in appropriate sanctuaries in order for them to live out the rest of their days in the environment they were supposed to be in.

The future plan is for the centre to be extended to include a complete veterinary teaching facility which will cater not only to Jordan but to the region as a whole.