Under the protocol signed between Orascom Pyramids Projects and the Supreme Council of Antiquities to develop the visitor area within the Pyramids archaeological site in Giza, and with the aim of providing an integrated tourism experience that reflects Egypt's long history and civilization, Orascom Pyramids announced the signing of a cooperation protocol with the charity Brooke, one of the world's leading organizations in the care and protection of working animals. The protocol aims to improve the health and living conditions of the working animals inside the visitor area, provide a safe and healthy environment befitting one of the most important World Heritage Sites, and improve the public perception of how working animals are treated.
This cooperation affirms Orascom Pyramids' commitment to applying animal welfare principles and improving the working and living conditions of working animals, in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Giza Veterinary Medicine Directorate, to ensure a humane and healthy environment that safeguards animals, workers and visitors alike.
The protocol includes a set of measures and activities, including:
Implementing an integrated veterinary and health care program for the working animals inside the archaeological site, in line with shared humanitarian and tourism goals.
Providing periodic medical examinations for working animals and regularly supplying the necessary treatment and vaccinations.
Preparing and implementing awareness programs and training workshops for animal owners and handlers to promote animal welfare and improve handling and care methods, in cooperation with specialized veterinarians.
Continuous coordination with government veterinary authorities to ensure compliance with Egyptian standards and laws.
Building and maintaining dedicated water troughs to provide a permanent, clean source of drinking water inside the archaeological site.
In this context, Dr. Hamed El-Aqnas, head of the General Authority for Veterinary Services, said that animal welfare is a great humanitarian message established by ancient Egyptian civilization thousands of years ago and affirmed by the monotheistic religions, and it is natural for this message to extend to the most important archaeological site in the world, where we are working to change the negative perception of how animals are treated. He added that they are pleased to cooperate with licensed civil society organizations to achieve this humanitarian goal and improve Egypt's civilized image.
Eng. Sherif Fouda, Chairman of the Board of Brooke, affirmed the organization's pride in its fruitful cooperation with Orascom Pyramids and the Supreme Council of Antiquities at one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, adding that our goal is to improve the health and well-being of working animals and to educate their owners on the best care and handling methods, helping to raise the quality of the tourism experience in the Pyramids area, and that, together with our partners, we seek to make the Pyramids a role model in applying animal welfare principles and striking a balance between preserving human heritage and caring for the animals that share this heritage with us.
For his part, Eng. Amr Gazarin, Chairman of the Board of Orascom Pyramids Projects, stated that this cooperation is part of Orascom Pyramids' commitment to comprehensively developing the visitor experience at the Pyramids in a way that matches the greatness of the site and its human history.
He affirmed that attention to the health and care of working animals is an essential part of developing the area and providing a humane and civilized tourism experience befitting the name of Egypt and the most important monument in the world, adding that the cooperation with Brooke translates our vision of achieving sustainable development that encompasses people, animals and place together.
It is worth noting that Brooke is one of the most prominent international charities concerned with the welfare of working animals, including horses, camels and donkeys, around the world. Founded in 1934 in the United Kingdom, it operates in more than 10 countries to improve the health of working animals on which millions of people depend for their daily livelihoods, by providing field veterinary care as well as awareness and training programs for animal owners and those who work with them.
In Egypt, Brooke runs a network of fixed and mobile clinics in a number of governorates, through which it provides free treatment for animals, along with training and awareness programs for their owners and for those working in transport, agriculture and tourism. The organization also works to raise awareness of the importance of animal welfare and to improve daily care practices, through cooperation with government bodies and local organizations to promote sustainability in dealing with working animals.
Orascom Pyramids Entertainment Projects (Orascom Pyramids) is an Egyptian joint-stock company affiliated with Orascom Investment Holding. It works in the development, management and operation of tourism and entertainment projects, and is currently developing, operating and providing tourism services within the visitor area on the Giza Pyramids Plateau under a 15-year usufruct contract with the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
