The Biblical Zoo works to reintroduce and strengthen populations of endangered animals (some already extinct) from the Israeli landscape.

The Biblical Zoo works to restore and strengthenpopulations of endangered species, returning native wildlife - includinganimals once extinct in Israel - to their natural habitats.

At the crossroads of three continents, Israel is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. For thousands of years, its landscapes have provided habitats for species from Europe, Asia, and Africa, creating one of the region’s richest natural ecosystems.

Biblical texts describe a land inhabited by bears, lions, deer, and countless other mammals, while the skies were filled with magnificent birds of prey such as the Griffon vulture and Lappet-faced vulture. Seasonal migrations brought flocks of storks overhead, and nocturnal raptors—including the Little Owl, Tawny Owl, and Barn Owl—thrived alongside countless reptiles, insects, and other wildlife. Later naturalists, including Henry Baker Tristram and Israel Aharoni, who explored the country in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, recorded landscapes teeming with wildlife, from the valleys of Nahal Amud to the rolling hills of the Shephelah.

During the twentieth century, rapid development, urbanization, and habitat loss placed many of these species under increasing ecological pressure. Populations declined dramatically, and some disappeared from Israel altogether. These challenges continue today, making conservation, captive breeding, habitat restoration, and species reintroduction more important than ever.

The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is proud to lead and support these vital efforts in close partnership with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Together, we are working to safeguard the country's unique biodiversity for future generations.

Discover more about our conservation projects, including the breeding and reintroduction of the Persian fallow deer, Griffon vulture, Ferruginous duck, Hula painted frog, Eurasian otter, Lesser kestrel, and Arabian oryx.

Our dedicated team carries out this work with passion, expertise, and a profound sense of responsibility. Every visit to the zoo directly supports these conservation initiatives, helping us protect endangered wildlife in Israel and contribute to global efforts to preserve the natural world.