Nostalgia as Dubai Zoo shuts its doors after 50 years

Dubai - Over 500 animals have already been relocated to the highly anticipated new landmark Dubai Safari Park

After 50 years of fun-filled moments and memories, residents are going to miss Dubai Zoo that awaits its official closure on November 5. The zoo, which was once home to 1,800 animals, is now left with empty cages and limited numbers of birds on sight.

Over 500 animals have already been relocated to the highly anticipated new landmark Dubai Safari Park, that will open on December 2 in the Al Warqa area. The 119 hectares project will receive the remaining 250 animals after the official opening.

However, Dubai residents will cherish the memories of Dubai Zoo, a landmark in the late 1960s. Indian Muhammed Younus, among a few visitors with families who were spotted at the zoo's final week, had taken the day off just to give a tour to their friends from Oman. "It's like the fifth time I'm here," Younus laughed. Younus recalled joyful moments his children would spend in zoo, considered the oldest zoo in Arabian Peninsula. "The location is close to Jumeirah Beach, Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa, which is why it had attracted many tourists throughout the years."

He said while it is sad to see the zoo shut down, the family is looking forward to a bigger experience at Dubai Safari.

Dubai resident Mahak Mulani said the zoo was one of the most visited places by students during their childhood days, apart from the Creek and Safa parks.

She was around six years old when her teacher took the class for a visit to the zoo. "It was the first time I got to see many animals," said Mulani. She recalled being a witness to a fight between orangutans, a lioness roaring at her better half while he just lazed around, snakes crawling around with their skins shredded in enclosed glass cabins, flamingos walking around in their pond and peacocks enjoying the winter. "One of my favourite memories was of giraffes trying to hog all the leaves from the trees surrounding their shelter," added Mulani.

A better, bigger space for animals to breed

Dubai Zoo was originally built in May 1967 by an Austrian resident, Otto J. Bulart, who was given permission by the then-Dubai Ruler the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Dr Reza Khan, principal wildlife specialist at the Dubai Municipality, who's headed the zoo since 1987, said:"Though it was considered one of the smallest zoos in the world, it was contributing to breeding and supplementing to nature."

The zoo first started on a sandy area with no walkway, and with the help of 24 employees.

Khan, who has been shifted to the Dubai Safari along with the rest of the keepers, added: "The animals will definitely have a better and bigger place to sleep, eat and breed."

The Dh1 billion Safari Park Project in Al Warqa 5 is being developed over 119 hectares of land. Over 400,000 trees are planted at the park, which will be home to 5,000 animals.

A tree planting paved the way for Dubai Safari

According to Dr Reza Khan, principal wildlife specialist at the Dubai Municipality, work on the Dubai Safari started in 1993, when a tree was planted in Warqa behind Mushrif Park. But it was in May 2012 that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, ordered the allocation of Dh150 million for a safari project in Al Warqa 5 to be developed over 119 hectares of land.

The Safari, which will open on December 2, will house the existing Dubai Zoo animals and will also accommodate new ones from abroad. The park currently houses 1,800 animals and is built to accommodate about 5,000 in total. It will open with about 3,000 animals, with over 500 different types of species. Now, there are over 40,000 trees planted and the water used will be recycled.

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Wither Dubai Zoo?

A drive through Jumeirah will now seem empty. Giraffes will no longer peer out of their cages to look at cars passing by, or rather children and adults alike will not peep out of their cars as they drive along to catch a glimpse of these long-necked animals. The fact that these animals are being moved to better conditions, to the Dubai Safari, is, however, a saving grace. And in line with Dubai's tradition, the safari is coming up in style.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai