The Animals On Show at The Dubai Zoo
Tourists in Dubai have many things to do and still a lot of places to see. The Dubai Zoo is one of these. This is especially true for those who have a particular interest in the many kinds, types or species of animals.
The Dubai Zoo is located opposite the Jumeirah Beach. It was built by a man named Otto Bulart in 1967. The zoo sits on a 5-acre land on the coastal residential area of Jumeirah. It marks the end or edge of the town, and for this Dubai Zoo is considered an important landmark of Dubai.
The Dubai Zoo is the oldest zoo in the entire Arabian Peninsula. In the early 1970s, the Municipality of Dubai took over the management and operation of the zoo. In the first two years of its operation, the zoo had very few animals on show. Included were the usual big cats (lions, pumas, tigers, and jaguars), several hoofed animals, and some monkeys. A few kinds of fish and some reptiles were likewise on show in an aquarium section.
Today, the zoo’s collection of animals is still rather limited. On last count, it has about 230 different species. The biggest group consists of reptiles, with about 400 specimens. Next are the mammals, with some 250 specimens. The mammals include the four big cats and the monkeys mentioned above, bears, deer, giraffes, hyenas, foxes, and porcupines. There also are baboons and chimpanzees.
The bird group consists of the golden eagle, parrots, and ostriches.
The zoo is also home to some of the animals that are in the list of endangered species. The most prominent five are as follows:
1. Cormorants – These are long-necked seabirds that are dark-colored and are noted for being voracious. A cormorant has a distensible pouch in which to hold the fish it catches. These birds are native to this region. Their odd-shaped body and unusual large posture make them ideal for zoo exhibit.
2. Siberian Tigers – These animals are believed to be natives of northern China and eastern Asia. They normally live in a harshly cold environment. For this reason, the Dubai Zoo created this exact same condition in a special facility to preserve the endangered tigers.
3. Barbary Sheep – These are goat-antelopes which originated from North Africa. However, they’re now rarely found in their native place. The sheep were introduced to southern Europe, North America, and other regions.
4. Arabian Wolves – These are subspecies of the Gray Wolf, which used to roam (often in packs) in many parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, however, only a few of these wolves can be found on the inner parts of Israel, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
5. Gorillas – These are considered the largest extant primates, and they’re found in the central African forests. They are known to have 2 species, with both being on the list of endangered animals. Destruction of their habitat and the outbreaks of the Ebola virus in their native central Africa contributed to their dwindled population.
The Dubai Zoo is likewise noted for its being the first zoo in the Arabian Peninsula to breed the Gordon’s wildcat, which is also an endangered animal.
The Dubai Zoo constantly undergoes renovation and re-designing, with the primary aim of maintaining the environment of its every section in such a condition that will be natural for their sheltered animals.
