Dubai Zoo is located in Jumeirah, it was established in 1971,when Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai ordered to built Dubai zoo on two hectacre plot in Jumeirah, In 1971 the management of the Dubai Zoo was taken over by the Dubai Municipality.During the first couple of years of its existence, the Dubai Zoo housed only a few animals like the big cats, monkeys and hoofed-animals. There was also a small acquarium with some fishes and reptiles.From May 1986 to May 1989, a part of the Zoo was redesigned and rebuilt. From June 1989 to the present there is constant re-designing and renovation.Dubai zoo is considered to be the oldest Zoo in United Arab Emirates as well as Arabian Peninsula Dubai Zoo also happens to be the first Arabian zoo to breed the rare Chimpanzee and Arabian wild cat.The Dubai Zoo has became a landmark as it indicated the "town's end".
It houses approximately 230 animal species, which endows Barbary Sheep, Socotra Shag, Bengal Tigers, Arabian wolves, Gorillas and Siberian Tigers.Subspecies of Gray Wolf, Arabian Wolves,Siberian Tigers, also called Amur Tigers, the Barbary Sheep Socotra Shags or Cormorants.There are nearly 248 different mammals.Foxes, Hyenas, Pumas, Lions, Jaguars, Chimpanzees, Baboons, Monkeys, Deer, Bears, Porcupines, Giraffes and Sheep are some of the mammals in the Zoo.Birds includes ostriches, golden eagles, parrots, Reptiles. almost 403 reptilian specimens are exhibited for the visitors. Dubai Zoo attracts annually large number of visitors. In 2004 the number of visitors reached around 779,000 visitors. So far, 590,000 people have visited the zoo in 2005.[1].
Opening timings edit
Opening hours during summers is 10 am to 6pm, whereas 10 am to 5:30 pm during winters.
New Dubai Zoo edit
Dubai Municipality has planned to build a new Dh 610 million zoo on 560 hectares of land behind Mushrif Park, in Dubailand.Construction has already been started and expected to be completed within next 3 or 4 years. The project will include a Core or Open Zoo, which will consist of six major habitats. The zoo will also include a Wildlife Safari Park, a Bedouin Tented Camp, Night Safaris, Biodiversity Museum, Captive Breeding and Conservation Centre, Birds of Prey Show and the Veterinary CentreThe civic body has plans to plant over 40,000 trees at the new zoological facility which will feature a Safari Park. The multi-million dirham project will be developed in phases. The new zoo will also endows a car parking over 15.5 hectors. The municipality has freed several animals in the wild in the forest reserve being created around Mushrif Park, the emirate's largest park with over 500 acres of lawns and trees.
The new zoo will be located on a site measuring over six million square metres. The redeveloped zoo will be distinguished by its vast space, unique location and variety of recreational and entertaining facilities in addition to allowing animals to live in areasdesigned to be as similar to their natural environment as possible The zoo will be one of the world's most attractive zoological gardens.The zoo's administration block will have a total area of 8.7 hectors, while the delivery area for small animals is 12.4 hectors, delivery area for big animals 7.2 hectors, Safari park 108 hectors, night zoo, camels area 60 hectors, falcon area 50 hectors, science section and the museum 17 hectors, while 150 hectors will be kept for future provisions.[2]