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JERASH — Located deep inside the forests of Souf in northern Jordan, Al Mawa for Nature and Wildlife is more than a peaceful refuge for wild animals. Since its establishment in 2011 through a partnership between the Princess Alia Foundation and the global welfare organisation Four Paws International, the sanctuary has emerged as the Middle East’s only specialised haven for large predators rescued from war zones, illegal trade, and abusive captivity.
With over 70 animals currently living on its grounds, and more than 2,400 having passed through its care since inception, Al Mawa raises a complex question: How do you rebuild a life for an animal born into captivity, trafficked across borders, or pulled from the ruins of war?
A corridor of cruelty
Jordan’s geographic location , bridging the south’s high demand with the north’s trafficking supply, has made it a key corridor for the illegal wildlife trade. Despite this, the country remains one of the few in the region that actively implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and its authorities regularly confiscate smuggled wildlife.
“When we started in 2011, we wanted to stop animal trafficking in Jordan,” said Mustafa Khraisat, Al Mawa’s Site Manager. “The police began confiscating any animal that was not legal. The number of animals that started coming to us was overwhelming.”
In response, Al Mawa became a regional hub. Working with partners like the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and environmental police, the sanctuary receives trafficked or abused animals and begins the arduous process of rehabilitation. Where possible, native species are released back into the wild—an outcome achieved for over 1,800 animals, including striped hyenas, European wolves, and various reptiles.
Sanctuary, not spectacle
“The most important thing we always say is this: we are not a zoo, we are a sanctuary,” said Saif Rawashdeh, Head of the Animal Care Unit. “We try to recreate the original habitat for the animals. We are here to help them rebuild a life and forget their sad experiences.”
Each enclosure is tailored to the species’ needs, designed according to stringent international and internal standards. “We have internal standards that go beyond any other,” Khraisat explained. “Everything is taken into account, materials, enclosure furniture, the size of water drops, height of fences. It must be safe for the animals and our staff, especially in a country where the sanctuary concept is still new.”
A forever home?
Recovery is not always possible. Many of the animals at Al Mawa were bred in captivity, often in appalling conditions. Abuse, inbreeding, and prolonged exposure to humans have stripped them of the instincts needed for survival in the wild.
“Most likely, they will always be with us,” says Khraisat. “They are not native to Jordan. Their natural habitats are not easily accessible or safe. Some are too weak or too accustomed to humans to survive outside : there are lions from Gaza, tigers from Syria, hyenas from private homes....”
“They come from different places and for different reasons,” Rawashdeh notes. “We provide everything they need—food, water, space. The rehabilitation process takes time and effort, but the animals deserve that. When we see improvement in their behaviour, we feel our success.”
The psychological scars are as deep as the physical ones. Animals who once lived in war zones often display symptoms mirroring trauma in humans—aggression, fear, and severe stress. Building trust again, even between animal and caretaker, requires patience and empathy.
Education as prevention
The international wildlife trade remains a multibillion-dollar industry, and despite confiscations and rescue efforts, animals continue to be trafficked and abused.
To that end, Al Mawa sees education as an essential part of its mission. The team gives lectures in schools and universities across Jordan to raise awareness about biodiversity and ecosystem protection. For students, researchers, and veterinary professionals, the sanctuary also offers training programs and internships that aim to build future capacities in animal welfare and conservation.
Al Mawa does what global institutions and treaties often fail to do—it gives these animals a second chance. But its very existence is also an indictment of a world that continues to allow such cruelty to flourish.