Issuu

can turn her head around 270 degrees and hunt using extraordinary hearing ability

CONTENT

08-09

Photo by: Muhammad Osama

«In this issue, Zoolife celebrates its 4th anniversary, through which we have successfully achieved our aim to spreading awareness and educate the community on nature preservation, wildlife conservation, and supporting cultural tourism.

As we are always keen to communicate our environmental message using an innovative and developed approach, starting from next year, Zoolife will be renovated with a new look and content that meets the current media, cultural and technological developments, to be more relevant and engaging to everyone while preserving the magazine’s roots and identity and making Zoolife more entertaining and educational than ever before.

Stay tuned to see Zoolife magazine’s new look in 2022. Happy New Year. »

Abu Dhabi Events

Event: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2022

Location: Virtual Event

Date: 15 - 19 January

Event: World Future Energy Summit 2021

Location: ADNEC

Date: Valid until 09 January

Event: Al Dhafra Festival 2021

Location: Al Gharbia Region - near Madinat Zayed Date: Valid until 22 January

Event: A Day in The Palace Exhibition at Qasr Al Hosn

Location: Qasr Al Hosn

Date: Valid until 26 February

Event: Sheikh Zayed Festival 2021

Location: Al Wathba

Date: Valid until 1 April

For more information, call 800555

H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri Director General - Zoo & Aquarium Public Institution

in Al Ain

Ticketing

Al Ain Zoo

Being the heirs of Zayed, we have always been known for our hospitality and courtesy. These are the values we have inherited from our ancestors that pertain to a culture of respect and generosity to our visitors, enabling us to provide them with the best service.

These are the vibes everyone senses when they come to the ticket counter to enjoy our services. Our national cadres proudly see their roles as ambassadors of their country and they set an excellent example for their colleagues in Al Ain Zoo, as we are responsible for the first impression that visitors get of the Zoo

Since smiling is the universal language that travels straight to the heart, we welcome all our visitors with the biggest smile at the ticket counter.

Our staff has full knowledge of all our services, experiences, and promotions, which they are expert at delivering rather than rely on traditional brochures.

Human interaction is what really makes the difference as it combines the details of our Emirati dialect, culture and welcoming nature. After saying “Marhaba Al saa” which means “Hello” in UAE, our staff presents and explains all our services, such as Ahlan Special Service, Al Maha Royal, Al Ain Safari, Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, and live shows.

This is not all; our staff provides the best recommendations for each visitor and each family tailored to their needs; for example, the staff offers services, which will suit the age of the family’s children and their interests. Our staff will also request wheelchairs for the elderly. Our staff is always keen to provide all the necessary support to people of determination, like giving them priority in all services and free entry.

Wings of Sahara Show

The daily bird show “Wings of Sahara Show” in our zoo adds a different and unique flavor to the visitors experience at Al Ain Zoo. The show experienced tremendous improvements over the past years. A team of specialized Emirati bird trainers will captivate your minds in one of the most mesmerizing bird shows in the world while all spotlights during the show will be on our different kind of birds who are the heroes of the show.

The show takes place daily in a distinctive amphitheater beside the Bird House during sunsets; timing might change based on weather conditions and seasons. The show attracts a great number of visitors from different nationalities, emirates, and ages to enjoy the amazing show every day.

The show starts with impressive movements of some falcons, eagles of different species and sizes and owls.

The falcon is presented to the visitors as an important element of the Arabian heritage in general and the UAE heritage in particular. While the birds perform, the trainers talk about the background of each bird such as their names, habitat, and some scientific information about them in addition to their features and anatomy.

At the closing of the show, the trainer invites the audience to capture memorable pictures with their favorite birds.

Our Zoo is closed currently in compliance with the government’s direction to take precautionary measures to prevent corona virus, and we will resume all activities and enjoyable experiences after re-opening it at

Experiences

Ghaf

is a perennial plant linked to the Emirati heritage since ancient times

Family: Mimosaceae (Mimosa family)

Plant name: Ghaf

Scientific name: Prosopis cineraria

DESCRIPTION

Ghaf is local perennial tree, it is deeply entwined with the public traditions and environment heritage of the UAE, known for its great ability to adapt to the desert environment it can reach 100 years of age and rise up to around 25 meters, while its roots can expand down to almost 50 meters seeking water and nutrients .

The Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God have mercy upon him) saw the great importance of Al Ghaf tree, he protected it and assign the name of the Ghaf as national tree of the UAE for the enormous value and the deep connection it has with the people of the UAE.

Grow up to 25 meters

Traditional uses

Wood from Ghaf tree is traditionary used as a source of fuel and basic material for building homes, in addition it used as an alternative medicine to treat ears, eyes, teeth, as well as indigestion. The ash from its wood is used to treat the broken bones, its bark is used for rheumatism and to alleviate the pain of scorpions’ sting, while the discharge from its boughs is used as an antiseptic.

Where does it grow in the world?

Al Ghaf is considered as one of the common trees on north-eastern coast on the UAE, where it can be found in the plains, sand dunes, and sides of valleys. Large forests of Ghaf trees are located south-east of Diqdaqah, while smaller forests of this tree are spread in the vast valleys of Hajar Mountains.

Where to find in Al Ain Zoo:

Ghaf trees can be found in various locations across Al Ain Zoo, it is used in in landscaping various projects for its ability to adapt to the desert environment in term of low water consumption and its tolerance to harsh environment conditions.

Al Ain Zoo .. A sanctuary for migratory birds

Al Ain Zoo is intensifying its efforts in nature conservation and wildlife protection to include plants and animals’ diversity, and providing migratory birds with a suitable habitat as they settle at the zoo’s spacious welcoming environment.

Not only does Al Ain Zoo study these migratory birds and provide them with a perfect habitat, the team at Al Ain Zoo also exchange expertise with relevant international and local parties by sharing data and results. Part of these efforts includes Al Ain Zoo taking part in the International Waterbird Census this year for the first time and sharing all relevant data with eBird, which is an important and large bank of data to help efforts in bird species conservation. In addition,

Al Ain Zoo provides the right environment for migratory birds to rest and for resident species to breed within its premises, including artificial lakes, reedbeds and other vegetation.

Since 2017 and upon observing the increased numbers of migratory birds at Al Ain Zoo, efforts have intensified to study their biodiversity as the zoo offers a perfect environment to attract this species. The team continues to monitor the birds’ activities and population on a monthly basis, gathering data and information including the birds’ species, number of individuals and behaviour, as well as any level of threat they face, to provide the necessary programs and support to conserve and protect them.

The Naughty Gazelle & The Cunning Fox

While playing hide and seek with her siblings, the naughty gazelle decided to play a prank to win the game by hiding far away so they would get tired of looking for her.

She walked far into the forest and waited, but none of her brothers or sisters came looking for her.

At first, she was incredibly happy to hide in a place no one could find, but as time went by, the naughty gazelle started to worry. After a long time passed with none of her siblings came looking for her, she decided to return and continue the game in a closer location, so perhaps they could find her.

Unfortunately, she got lost on her way back and was unable to return, and as night fell, the forest became dark and scary.

The naughty gazelle started crying and calling out, hoping someone would hear her cries and come to rescue her. At this time a fox heard her cries so he ran to where she stood and asked her cunningly:” Hey there little gazelle, why are you crying?”

The gazelle answered with tears covering her pretty face:” I lost my path when I was playing with my siblings, please help me get back home.”

Fear and worry made her forget her mother’s advice, warning her to stay away from the cunning fox, as to him, she was just a tasty dinner.

The fox replied: “Don’t worry my dear, I will help you, just wait here as I find the way to your home because I don’t want you to get tired searching with me.”

The fox set out while thinking to himself: “This is one yummy gazelle; tonight’s dinner will be splendid”. He then dug a deep hole in the ground and covered it with grass to trip the young gazelle in it.

Watching from a tree above, the wise owl flew down to the gazelle and told her what the cunning fox was up to.

The owl said: “sweet gazelle, go with the fox without worry, I will fly quietly above you, and as you get close to the hole, I will make a sound so the fox would look up and get distracted from the road and fall into the hole.”

The fox travelled back to the gazelle to give the good news that he managed to find the way back home, the gazelle asked him to lead the way while she walked behind him. As they approached the hole, the owl called out, the fox looked up and fell into the hole, unable to get out.

The young gazelle thanked the owl for rescuing her and helping her to find the way back home, making a promise to not get into trouble with her naughtiness.

Guests to be welcomed to the first Penguin beach in the Middle East

The first ever outdoor beach for penguins in the region is set to welcome guests at Al Ain Zoo.

Spanning 275m², the new destination consists of an outdoor area, pool and beach for penguins. Soon, guests will be able to walk the pathways around fountain grasses and beneath palm trees to learn more about these wonderful animals.

The new beach will be home to 20-10 Humboldt penguins, a flightless marine bird with high adaptation to life near water bodies, their black and white feathery coat keep them camouflaged, while their wings have morphed to work as fins and as balance support for walking on land.

Guests visiting Al Ain Zoo can visit the beach area to feed the penguins and interact with them, while learning about these charming animals and see them skillfully navigate underwater through the glass windows.

The beach is located within the current birds’ world, and i resembles the natural habitat in order to conserve their living standards to the highest degree and protect them from extinction.

Humboldt Penguins at Al Ain Zoo

Listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Al Ain Zoo is home to more than 60 Humboldt penguins, where a team of experts looks after them, offering care and support in an enclosure resembling their natural habitat to increase their count.

Highlighting the importance of conserving Humboldt Penguins

The exhibit will highlight the importance of protecting the endangered species to guests, they will learn more about these amazing individual birds through stories told by their caretakers, who will answer all types of questions related to the birds, as well as lead interactive activities and presentations showcasing wide range of toping of the penguins’ life and behavior, highlighting the Zoo’s mission in conserving nature and wildlife.

Animal World with National Geographic To avoid danger ... when flying in the rain

Raindrops - in terms of their strength - may look like bowling balls of a moth or a moth, but their wings have a protective layer against storms; It is a kind of breaking shield of raindrops.

To study the surface of its “ultra-waterproof” wings, scientists from Cornell University in the United States took pictures very quickly of raindrops colliding with the wings of a moth. They saw that a waxy layer spread out and spread the raindrop, and then the flat droplet punctured an array of tiny protrusions, turning them into smaller, scattered globules. The researchers say that simulating this defense system may lead to the production of materials better able to repel water.

Scientists from “Cornell University” in the US very quickly take pictures of raindrops crashing into the wings of a moth.

Pen Maya Weih-Has Lens Brian Wu, Seungho Kim, Jason Dombroskie , Sunghwan Jung

EXCLUSIVE

SNEAK PEEKS ... STAY CLOSE!

NAJMA

Zoolife: “Hi Najma, you look so cool, how could you manage to catch this long strip of meat so fast?”

Najma: “Ohh, it is one of the guests’ favourite attractions at the Wings of Sahara Show, I present a segment showcasing our hunting skills by swallowing a long strip of meat without even chewing, while my friend Barney presents another segment showcasing our amazing hearing ability by finding the sound source in the wooden boxes.”

Zoolife: “I have noticed something peculiar while you were flying, your wings don’t make any sound?”

Najma: “Owls hunt very quietly, we don’t make any sound even as we approach our prey, this is because our feathers differ from other birds, and I can tell you another amazing fact about our hunting skills.”

Zoolife: “Please tell me.”

Najma: “Because of our extraordinary hearing abilities, which operates just like radar, we can hunt without relying on eyesight, but rather we rely on this ability and accurate hearing.”

Zoolife: “I don’t rule that out, your eyes don’t even move!”

Najma: “Unlike other birds whose eyes are on the sides of their head, owls’ eyes are the most front facing, this also explains why we rotate our heads around 270 degrees, so I can see clearly around me.”

Zoolife: “I see you blink in a strange way as well, how do you do that?”

Najma: “I have three eyelids, an upper and lower, and the third one is called the nictitating

membrane, I close the upper eyelid when I blink and the lower one when I sleep, as for the third eyelid, it is made out of thin layer of membrane closing diagonally across the eye from inside to the outside, a quick blink with this third eyelid cleans and moisturizes the eye.

Zoolife: “You are full of wonder my dear friend; you have amazed me with these facts which not so many know. Add to this your calmness and kind heart, it was a real pleasure chatting with you, I will let you go back to the Wings of Sahara Show as I can see many guests waiting for you on the stands.”

"My hunting segment is a guests’ favourite at Wings of Sahara Show" Owls can turn their heads around 270 degrees and hunt quietly using its extraordinary hearing ability.

Najma: “Yes, I must go back to the show as the eagles and falcons’ show has ended, Thank my dear zoolife for your visit.”

Zoolife: “I am actually going back to the stands, I don’t think I can get enough of watching the amazing show.”

Najma: “Thank you my dear friend.”