Situated near the town of Azraq, some 100 kilometers from the capital city, Amman, the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve is an important and rare environmental project committed to the preservation of animal species in the region. In 1975, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature opened the reserve as both a center for breeding and protecting endangered species and wildlife found in the surrounding desert landscape. The property spans 22 square kilometers and supports the ecosystem of these endangered animals.

Within the reserve, there are some of the rarest and most endangered species in the Middle East including various bird species, owls, oryx, sand gazelle and onagers. In total, there are some 193 species which also includes plant life, in particular, there are several carnivore plant species.