Private animal protectorate in Al-Abdaly

Photo show the variety of animals that can be found at the Bab Al-Dukkala nature preserve in Al-Abdaly. — Photo by Joseph Shagra and Yasser Al-Zayyat

Feeding llamas, deer, goats, sheep and other animals is a wonderful experience, and one people can enjoy at the Bab Dukkala nature protectorate in Abdaly, around 118 km from Kuwait City. There is no entrance fee to this reserve, encouraging families to visit. Although Bab Dukkala opened three years ago, it continues to fly under the radar. It's over an hour out of the city by car, and the secluded location provides over 15,000 sq m for guests and wildlife. "We chose this faraway place to have a large, open space to allow us to keep more animals and birds," Ahmad Al-Rashdan, owner of Bab Dukkala, told Kuwait Times.

Private nature preserve

The protectorate is home to 60 types of animals and around 120 species of birds. "Besides the 100-plus types of birds in our cages, there is also a white parrot which is not caged. Visitors to Bab Dukkala can hold it on their arm and take photos," Rashdan noted. Visitors enjoy the chance to feed the various animals at the center. "We used to let people feed the animals with fruits or vegetables they brought with them, but we noticed that this can harm the animals, especially if the produce is sprayed with insecticides. We now provide leaves and plants that visitors can buy for a nominal price of 250 fils and feed the animals," explained Rashdan.

"We are glad that we don't face problems with visitors. We have guards walking around the protectorate who watch for any visitors attacking animals or throwing stuff on them. We have 25 people working here, including the cleaners," he said. The animals are sourced from all across the globe. "I travelled to various countries to bring these animals and birds. Some came from Europe, others from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the deer are local. I brought the birds from Sudan," he added.

Before creating the center, breeding animals was a hobby for Rashdan. "When I collected many animals, I thought of showing people my work, and that the animals can be used for people's enjoyment and eat from their hands. Even the wild animals are friendly to visitors. Also, one of our staff walks around the place with a monkey, which people can hold in their arms and take photos."

Ride a horse, pet a llama

Visitors can also ride a horse, pony and even a llama. The pony's small stature means rides are restricted to children. Guests are also offered the chance to try the Dee Poon 3D game, a virtual rollercoaster. The setup consists of two separate moving seats, with users wearing 3D eye-sets. They then experience a real-life rollercoaster ride.

Bab Dukkala is open only during winter, from Nov 1 to April 1. Opening hours are from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. "Maybe many people don't know about this place, but we receive between 4,000 to 6,000 visitors every Friday, which is a huge number. We invite people to come and enjoy the great weather and atmosphere, especially during the weekend," concluded Rashdan.

By Nawara Fattahova