Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve

About

The 32 square kilometer Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve was established in 1968 to reintroduce Israel’s native fauna, particularly those mentioned in the Bible, that had disappeared from the country. Locally extinct species like the onager (Asiatic Wild Ass) have been bred in the park’s desert environment and released into the wild, while other exotic endangered species like the Saharan scimitar horned oryx and addax are bred in the park. Visitors can drive through the open safari area to see desert herbivores in their natural environment - just keep an eye out for the curious ostriches who have been known to stick their heads into open car windows! There’s also a Predators Center that focuses on education, research, and reproduction of rare predators like foxes, wolves, and wild cats, as well as reptiles, rodents, and raptors. The Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall offers the chance to see reclusive nocturnal species like bats, owls, and the desert hedgehog.