The UAE is set to increase its conservation efforts with new centres in Al Ain.
Al Ain Zoo has announced the construction of a gorilla sanctuary, sand cat breeding centre and rescue centre as part of the attraction’s expansion.
A reptile park, koala land, chimpanzee forrest, penguin beach, Al Ain Nature Reserve and elephant safari are also set to open at the destination.
The new rescue centre, once built, will provide around-the-clock medical care for animals of all species and rehabilitee animals so that they can return to their natural habitat.
Set to home the critically endangered animals, the gorilla sanctuary will be home to four male gorillas and will feature indoor and outdoor exhibition areas.
No opening date has been announced but the new centers are part of 12 new developments set to launch at Al Ain Zoo in the coming years.
In addition, the Al Ain nature Reserve aims to preserve the habitat of 400 threatened species including local animal species the Arabian sand cat, Arabian Oryx and houbara.
Al Ain Zoo also recently participated in developing and publishing the Dama Gazelle Conservation Strategy 2019-2028.
As a result the introduction of new recommendations have been launched to help reserve thae natural habitat of one of the region’s most endangered animals, the Dama gazelle, of which less than 100 exists in the wild.
“Following the steps and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of Al Ain Zoo, we strive to protect one of the most endangered antelope species in the world by participating and leading in various strategies together with local, regional and global partners that will contribute to saving this species from extinction,” said Hessa Ahmed Al Qahtani, from the unit head conservation programme’s development at Al Ain Zoo.
For more information, visit www.alainzoo.ae.
