Homs, Central Syria (SANA)-Nature reserves in Syria present a wonderful panorama about wildlife and nature where you can see trees, rare plants and different species of animals such as birds, and reptiles in addition to the pastoral shrubs.

Al-Talila Nature Reserve ranks first among counterparts in Syria and was established mainly for preserving animals and plants biological diversity in al-Talila area, 30 km from the ancient city of Palmyra city (about 220 km north-east of Damascus).

It was established in 1991 on an area of 30,000 hectares, surrounded by 57-km ditch and started to receive wild animals in 1996.

The Reserve was a result of a long group work by national and international teams in the framework of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project and the Italian cooperation from 1996 to 2004, said Director of the General Commission for Desert Management and Development Mohammad Hammoud.

The project consists of one nature reserve and three associations for improving pastures and breeding sheep, and aims at resettling the endangered species such as the deer and the Arabian Oryx .

It also aims at revegetating lands, maintaining plant species, increasing the biological diversity, allowing researchers and students to benefit from the reserve in field of scientific research and boosting awareness of the locals about the ways of achieving the success of the project.

The Arabian Oryx and deer live in the Syrian Desert, and some of them are still living in the mountains west of Palmyra, said Director of al-Talila Reserve Dr. Ahmed Qanani.

He pointed out that the biological diversity of the Reserve had been studied where ibis birds, which are registered as extinct animals, were discovered in addition to different species of insects which were not discovered on the international level such as a kind of ladybug named al-Talila.

Different species of plants grow in the Reserve such as the perennials where you can see dwarf and pastoral shrubs, wormwood, lavender and others in addition to the seasonal plants that constitute main fodder for animals during certain times of the year.

Different species of insects were discovered in al- Talila Reserve such spiders, ladybugs, scorpions, butterflies and one specie of frogs.

The Reserve also includes different kinds of reptiles such as lizards and pythons in addition to about 270 bird species, the most famous of which are larks, shrikes and different species of birds of prey as Palmyra Oasis has become an important crossing for migratory birds .

Some of the most important mammals in the Reserve are red foxes, sand cats, wildcats, jackals and hedgehogs which live in a natural way due to the peaceful atmosphere and the availability of food in the Reserve where it became a haven for a lot of mammals and birds.

Estimates show that the average number of camels pasturing in the Reserve is about 1,200 annually without harming the shrubs at times of drought.

The Reserve contains a sulfur spring whose hot water is good for treating neural and dermatological diseases.

Ruaa AL-Jazaeri/kh.Aridi