Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006
Dubai: Private operators will take over the services at Dubai Zoo to enhance facilities and improve the plight of animals.
Ahmad Abdul Kareem, Director of Public Parks and Horticulture Department at Dubai Municipality, said the zoo services, including maintenance, cleaning, security and plantation, will be outsourced once the new Dubai Zoo opens in 2008.
"We are also considering privatising the animal keeping section to take better care of the inmates," he said.
The department is considering various options, including hiring a specialised company to run the zoo. However, the administration will remain under the control of the municipality.
Kareem said the final design for the new Dubai Zoo will be ready by May while construction is expected to finish in January 2008.
The existing zoo at Jumeirah will be shifted to Mushrif Park to be built at a cost of Dh200 million over 200 hectares.
Kareem said the new zoo will be designed as an open zoo like a safari park.
The first phase covering 50 hectares will be completed in 2008. The municipality had announced similar projects for the new zoo in the past but these plans never materialised.
"This time, it is final and the plan has been approved by the higher authorities," said a zoo official.
"Dubai definitely needs a bigger zoo because the increasing number of visitors. Also the number of inmates, forced to live in cramped conditions, is increasing as well." The zoo attracted around 779,000 visitors in 2004 as compared to 263,909 visitors in 1992.
The zoo houses around 160 species while the total number of inmates is more than 1,200 animals. They are increasing every month and they are sharing a total area of around 20,000 square metres, including offices and visitors' centre.
The space also included walkways and sitting areas. An animal has a space of less than 9 square metres on average if spaces for offices and walkways are excluded from the total area.
Apart from the zoo, the new project will also include a botanical garden.
"The new zoo has the potential to become a major attraction for national and international visitors. This will be enhanced and supported by present trends towards eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation," said Kareem.
Will plans for the new zoo materialise on time?
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Newborn Arabian Oryx grabs attention
A female Arabian Oryx was born for the first time at the Dubai Zoo, announced a zoo official.
The zoo had received the first pair of Arabian Oryx from the farm of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in May 2005. The animals are now living in an enclosure which they share with the Arabian Gazelles.
"The female baby, whom we named Luna, was born on January 21."
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
