Antonio Cano Gea

Antonio Cano Gea was also a devoted admirer and preserver of nature in his native Almeria. He was one of the first to warn of the problems faced by the biologically rich Albufera de Adra wetlands west of the Almeria coast, due to pressure from intensive farming. His calls for protection for the space, currently a Natural Park, was unsuccessful in his time. Similarly, he was one of the first to become interested in the Punta Entinas salt marshes, currently the Punta Entinas-Sabinar National Park. The study methods followed by Cano were the basis for further investigations by José Antonio Valverde in Doñana. His work, however, reached its peak in 1971 onwards, when, in collaboration with Valverde, he created the La Hoya Nature Reserve, on a farm owned by the CSIC, located in the neighborhood of that name, towards the back of the citadel of the Almeria capital. Valverde and Cano, particularly sensitive about the little-studied situation of the North African gazelle species, such as the dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas neglecta) and the dama gazelle or springbok Mohor (Gazella dama), decided to undertake captive breeding, a successful pioneering act at the time. It was the Spanish Army who assisted in the capture of the species required in the Sahara Desert. In 1975 the Natural Reserve became the Saharan Wildlife Rescue Park, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Arid Zone Experimental Station of Almeria. The Park performs an important task of breeding and reintroduction of species of North African gazelles, including the above plus other species such as Cuvier's gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) and aoudad Sahara (Ammotragus lervia sahariensis).

Cano's efforts have been recognized by organizations such as the National Geographic Society, of which was a member or the WWF / Adena.

Antonio Cano Gea is recorded with the occupation photographer. Recorded as photographer, naturalist and journalist.