Al Ain Zoo

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Zoo in Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the UAE

Al Ain Zoo

حَدِيْقَة ٱلْحَيْوَانَات بِٱلْعَيْن

Al Ain zoo entrance

24°10′33.89″N 55°44′18.57″E﻿ / ﻿24.1760806°N 55.7384917°E﻿ / 24.1760806; 55.7384917
Date opened| November 25, 1968; 55 years ago (1968-11-25)
Location| Al Ain, Eastern Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the UAE
Land area| 400 ha (990 acres)
Website| www.alainzoo.ae

Al Ain Zoo (Arabic: حَدِيْقَة ٱلْحَيْوَانَات بِٱلْعَيْن, romanized: Ḥadīqat Ḥaywānāt Bil-ʿAyn), also "Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort"[1][2] or simply "Al Ain Wildlife Park" (Arabic: مُتَنَزَّه ٱلْعَيْن لِلْحَيَاة ٱلْبَرِيَّة, romanized: Mutanazzah Al-ʿAyn Lil-Ḥayāt Al-Bariyyah),[3][4][5] is a 400-hectare (990-acre) zoo located in the foothills of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. It is primarily composed of ungulates and herbivores, such as Arabian antelopes. It also holds oryx, eland, gazelle, and lechwe, as well as the rare white lion and Nubian giraffe.[6]

## History and fauna[edit]

An Arabian leopard. Leopards had been present in the area of Jebel Hafeet in the 20th century.[7][8]

The zoo was founded in 1968 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates, out of concern for the land's wildlife, particularly ungulates such as the Arabian oryx.[9][10]

The zoo features a big cat house, containing lions, mountain lions, jaguars,[2] black panthers, leopards and cheetahs. In addition, it has a reptile house, monkey compounds, aquarium, and an aviary. From February 2010 until July 2010, the Al Ain Zoo hosted the "Dinosaur Trail," a small section that includes around 15 to 20 mechanical dinosaurs with sensors, such as Tyrannosaurus rex. It includes information about the dinosaur, such as when they lived, where in the present world they would have been found, their height and diet.[citation needed]

In April 2019,[11] the zoo prepared to expand with work on its perimeters in order to build new sites such as the conservation and breeding center, African Safari, World Desert Zoo, and the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.[3][4]

In March 2022, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums released a position statement regarding the intention of WAZA member Al Ain Zoo to import wild African Elephants from Namibia. The WAZA Code of Ethics acknowledges that, from time to time, acquisitions from the wild are necessary based on a legitimate need for conservation breeding programs, education programs, or basic biological studies. However, in the case of Al Ain Zoo's intention to import wild African Elephants from Namibia, WAZA has examined the information provided by this zoological institution and others and has not been able to determine whether the requirements of WAZA's Code of Ethics are met. As a result, Al Ain zoo is no longer a WAZA member.[12]

On September 15, 2022, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) announced the termination of the membership of Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates. The zoo’s membership ended on December 31, 2022, following the decision of the EAZA Council that EAZA can no longer reasonably be expected to allow the institution to remain a Member. The decision comes after careful examination of evidence related to importing wild-caught African elephants from Namibia, which the Council agreed constituted multiple breaches of EAZA Codes and Standards. [13]

Al Ain Zoo has implemented a sustainability initiative by cultivating 211.2 tons of plant-based food annually in a dedicated nursery. The zoo grows various local and non-local plant species like Sidr, Ghaf, Hibiscus, and others to ensure a steady food supply for its animals.[14]

## Gallery[edit]

* Sunset in front of the zoo's entrance

* Sand cat, native to the region

* Cheetah

* Puma or mountain lion

* Jaguar

* Black panther

* Bengal tiger

* White tiger

* Male lion

* White lions

* Baby macaque

* Hamadryas baboon

* White rhinoceros

* Meerkats

* East African oryx

* Gazelle with identification tag

* Arabian tahr, which is naturally found in Jebel Hafeet and Al Hajar Mountains[15][16][17]

* Nubian giraffes

* Aldabra giant tortoise

* Closeup of Aldabra giant tortoise

* Marabou stork

* Black swan

* White stork

* Egyptian goose

* Indian peafowl

* Ostrich

## See also[edit]

* Al Hefaiyah Conservation Centre
* Dubai Dolphinarium
* Dubai Safari Park
* Dubai Zoo
* Emirates Park Zoo near Abu Dhabi City
* Sir Bani Yas in the Western Region

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Forte, Pauline M. (2010-05-22). "Al Ain Wildlife Park: A night at the zoo". Retrieved 2019-04-14.
2. ^ a b c "Al Ain". The Report Abu Dhabi 2010. Oxford Business Group. 2010. pp. 171–176. ISBN 978-1-9070-6521-7.
3. ^ a b c Dāwūd, Muḥammad (2010-03-04). "منتزه العين يؤمن حياة كائنات مهددة بالانقراض" (in Arabic). Al-Bayan. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
4. ^ a b c Sanad, ʿAzzah (2010-04-09). "متنزه العين للحياة البرية بيئة تنبض بالجمال" (in Arabic). Al Ain: Al-Khaleej. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
5. ^ a b "افتتاح متنزه الحياة البرية بحديقة الحيوانات بالعين". WAM (in Arabic). Al-Ittihad. 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
6. ^ "Al Ain". The Rough Guide to Dubai. Rough Guides UK. 2016-11-01. ISBN 978-0-2412-9864-0.
7. ^ Edmonds, J.-A.; Budd, K. J.; Al Midfa, A. & Gross, C. (2006). "Status of the Arabian Leopard in United Arab Emirates" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 1): 33–39.
8. ^ Spalton, J. A. & Al-Hikmani, H. M. (2006). "The Leopard in the Arabian Peninsula – Distribution and Subspecies Status" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 1): 4–8.
9. ^ "History". Al Ain Zoo. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
10. ^ "Overview". Al Ain Zoo. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
11. ^ Bridge, Sam (2019-04-13). "Al Ain Zoo plans major projects in tourism push". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
12. ^ "Position Statement on Export of Wild African Elephants - WAZA".
13. ^ https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/2022-12-09-EAZA-Statement-on-Al-Ain-TerminationFINAL.pdf
14. ^ "Al Ain Zoo advances ecological sustainability by growing 210+ tonnes of plant-based animal browse annually". gulfnews.com. 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
15. ^ WAM (2017-09-13). "EAD raises awareness on Abu Dhabi's natural heritage at ADIHEX 2017". The Gulf Today. Archived from the original on 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
16. ^ De Leon, J. P. (2014-05-26). "100th Arabian tahr, and twin tahrs welcomed in Al Ain". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
17. ^ "Newborn Arabian tahr discovered on Jebel Hafeet". The National. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2018-03-30.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to Al Ain Zoo at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Geographic|

* BGCI garden