Hai-Bar Nature Reserve

Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, Carmel

The Hai-Bar Nature Reserve on Carmel Mountain constitutes a small part of a larger Mediterranean forest reserve, where animals and their offspring are destined to be set free in the wild, grow and reproduce.

The location is home to a limited number of mammals, birds of prey and amphibians who are at risk of extinction or who have already been extinct from this part of the world over the course of the past 200 years.

Hai-Bar nature reserves were established in Israel (Mount Carmel and Yotveta) as part of a vision to reintroduce biblical animals into our country's landscape.

This idea was formulated by the founder of the Nature Reserves Authority (presently known as the Nature and Parks Authority) the late General Abraham Yaffe.

The Carmel Hai-Bar also contains several species of mammals brought to the country in an effort to find animals mentioned in both the Bible and travel logs kept by travelers passing through the countryin recent centuries. Some of the animals remain here for display only, with no plans for their release into nature.

Additional information, as well as explanations regarding the animals and video footage can be found at the Haifa University Hai-Bar Site