Oryx

reserve in Oman and Bison reserve Hammerhof in Germany

Comparison
Abdullah Al-Abri Jalal Al-Hassani

Prepared by:

About the authors:

Abdullah Al Abri Student in Sultan Qaboos University, Collage of Arts, Tourism Department. Specialized in: Tourism Operation Management. E-Mail: abdo.alabri@hotmail.com

Jalal Al Hassani Student in Sultan Qaboos University, Collage of Arts, Tourism Department. Specialized in: Tourism and Hospitality Management. E-Mail: jalal.alhassani@hotmail.com

Introduction:
As an official delegation of students from Sultan Qaboos University (Tourism department) we were visiting the Hammerhof (European Bison Conservation Centre) in Germany. During the visit the administration offered us an unique internship experience in the centre. This study paper has been prepared by Abdullah Al Abri and Jalal Al Hassani who worked with the Hammerhof Conservation Centre for one week. We both are studying tourism in Sultan Qaboos University. This study paper will provide you with some brief description about two conservation sites which are the Oryx reserve in Oman and the Bison reserve Hammerhof in Germany. Then we will spot light in similar aspects between the Hammerhof Conservation and Oryx Conservation to make a comparison between them. Following we will come out with some results and recommendations which can be applied in the Oryx reserve in Oman. The Hammerhof Bison Conservation is located near the city of Paderborn and is over 170 hectares in size. The endangered species are surrounded by an enclosure in a suitable size of area and environment. The Arabian Oryx reserve is located in Al Wusta region within the central desert and coastal hills biogeographically regions of Oman. In this study paper the comparison will include: history aspects, wild animals, facilities and tourist service.

History comparison:

The Arabian Oryx reserve: 1976: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos issued directives to reintroduce the Arabian Oryx in Oman. 1980: a herd of Oryx arrived in the Sultanate from the USA. 1996-1999: The wild herds reduced when poachers took individual Oryx to sale it outside of Oman. 2007: The reserve was delisted from UNESCO's World Heritage register because of reducing the site by 90% and decreasing the population of Oryx from 450 to 65 individuals.

Hammerhof reserve: 1755: The last wild Bison in Germany was shot. 1921: The last free living Bison was shot by a poacher in the forests of Bialowieza . 1922: The world populations of Bisons were only 54 individuals. 1958: European Bison Breeding Center Hardehausen was founded as a reserve toreintroduce the Bisons. 1959: Three Bisons were bought from the zoo Hellabrunn, Munich. 1969: The world population of Bisons rose to 952 individuals. 2004: The area of the reserve was increased by 80 hectares to accommodate the four new Bisons which were brought from Poland. 2011: The population of the Bison rose by 153 born Bisons.

Tourist services and facility comparison:

The facilities in the Hammerhof are developed starting from a street to the location, which is paved and allow to reach the place easily. When you arrive there you find free parking and there is special parking for disabled people near to the building. There are two buildings; one of them contains offices in ground floor for the employees, and accommodation for the employees in the second and third floor. The second building contains an information centre, a restaurant, lecture hall and a small museum, displaying pictures about the conservation effort and materials related to the protected animals. In the forest you find some rest areas. Also you can find hiking trails with sign broads where information is available.

If we compare the facilities in the Arabian Oryx in Oman we will find only the enclosures so we recommend adding some facilities such as: 12345678Accommodation and offices for staff. Car parking for visitors. Tourist information equipped with different multimedia features. Lecture halls Information centre. Restaurant. Rest areas. Maps and guiding facilities.

Animals' comparison:

There are several species which are protected in the Hammerhof and the most important one is the European Bison, which is not the same like the American Bison. Also there are wild horses which are called Tarpan. The Tarpan horses are different in its colour and middle size light weight in comparison to other horses. Also there are wild pigs, red deer and white-colored deer.

The Arabian Oryx reserve has many important and rare animals such as: Arabian Oryx, Arabian deer, Arabian wolf and Nubian ibex. These animals are endangered in the Arabian region. The conservation can protect the individuals and will help the population to increase; this will lead to good biodiversity conservation. So it serves as an important attraction for locals and tourist in the region.

Internship in the Hammerhof:

Tasks during our stay in the Hammerhof reserve:

1- Procedures of managing the reserve and the information center. 2- We learned how to guide tourists in the reserve. 3- We learned relevant biological information of the endangered species and their conservation. 4- Supervising school students which visited the reserve. 5- Learned the names of local trees and plants. 6- Learned about the general environment and the ecosystem of the forest. 7- Dealing with wildlife and taking care about the plants.

Cooperation between the Hammerhof reserve and Arabian Oryx reserve: Certainly there are points to cooperate and to exchange the experiences between Hammerhof reserve and Arabian Oryx reserve: 1- How to preserve endangered species and the mechanism of securing the population. 2- Create conditions for animals to make them live in appropriate environment to help them to increase and to live freely. 3- Educate Omani Scientifics in the management of protected areas. 4- Training staff on the operation of an integrated information center including information about animals in the reserve, the history and developing an exhibition of information with pictures database about reserve by multimedia. 5- Setup another exhibition which explains information in way that helps children to understand information and facts about the wildlife. 6- Developing the reserve to serve as a center for biodiversity conservation, environment, education and sustainable tourism.

In conclusion: A cooperation between the Hammerhof reserve and Arabian Oryx reserve can be a great opportunity for both establishments in order to share experience and to learn from each other.