Dubai Zoo A new zoo for Dubai

kiang

kiang

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Dubai is to start work on a new Zoo this year in a bid to replace the existing, outdated facility with a new park of “world class” standards, Dubai Municipality has said.
Plans for the new animal centre are expected to be signed off in the next two months with the help of special consultants, who will decide a suitable site, the required area as well as the location and grouping of animals, the municipality said.
According to the authorities, the zoo will adopt the cage concept over the safari model, which is typically reserved for developed countries and allows animals to roam freely within the development.

gulfnews : Dubai Municipality plans new zoo in emirate
 
I'm not sure what to make of this. Plans for a 'world-class' zoo in Dubai have been floating around for quite some time (for example: Small and Sad: Dubai Zoo’s Relocation on Hold Again Designing Zoos) so we'll see if these will be followed up. I don't really understand the logic behind choosing cages over open exhibits; a small area is cited as the main factor, but why should this be an issue if the site hasn't been chosen yet? I visited the current zoo a few months ago, and its main issue seems to be its small size. A larger site with a more efficient layout would be great for this zoo, even with just its current collection.

Why, on all other fronts, are the Emirates aspiring to be 'a developed country', but when it comes to its zoo, Dubai is happy to be classed with some of the world's poorest countries?
Do these plans really offer the improvement that Dubai Zoo needs?
 
Agreed. The Mun. has talked of rebuilding a zoo for Dubai elsewhere for close 1,5 decade ... It is both timely and true that it become reality soon ... Having money for al Burj and the Islands real estate infers it is more than a little embarassing they cannot get it together for Dubai Zoo's embattled and professionally managed small zoo and staff. A shame really!

I will believe it ... when they do have a New Zoo under present management built and the animals relocated and the collection extended into a themed zoo!!! :mad:
 
Nisha said:
Safari park to replace Dubai Zoo

Artist's impression released along with further details... the new development will go under the name "Dubai Safari"
Click to expand...

Thanks for that - looks very interesting. I'm not sure how practical it'll be for zoo enthusiasts but it definitely looks like a decent experience for the average visitor.

I'm not enormously optimistic about the size of paddocks - it's quite easy to just melt the huge Asian or African sections into just a couple of enclosures, and space seems a bit disproportionate on this map (e.g. tigers get almost as much area as the elephants or 'Asian savanna', and the reptile complex is a similar size). I hope the elephants get enough space.

I don't really see the relevance of having a sea life building, but can't really judge until we know what they plan on exhibiting in it.
 
From the article:

“It’s a safari concept with a different flavour. Visitors will have to use the zoo’s vehicles to go around and see the animals,” he said.

What exactly does this mean???
 
They have been getting logistical and design support on this project from San Diego Zoo Global. If you notice the style of the map on the artist's impressions and the names of the regions, it may seem quite familiar.
 
Ituri said:
They have been getting logistical and design support on this project from San Diego Zoo Global. If you notice the style of the map on the artist's impressions and the names of the regions, it may seem quite familiar.
Click to expand...

I know San Diego has been involved in the long-running project in Al Ain, in the UAE, but didn't know they were part of this project as well. "Lion Camp" does sound a bit familiar though.
 
Hmm....maybe I'm confusing my institutions. Perhaps this one just mimicked the names and map style of San Diego. My mistake.
 
here's a better article:
gulfnews : Dubai Safari to cover 400 hectares
Dubai Zoo animals will finally get a new home by the end of next year as Dubai Municipality starts work on the 400-hectare ‘Dubai Safari' in the Al Warqa area on Aweer Road.

Dubai Safari will be home to more than 1,000 animals cramped in the existing zoo in Jumeirah along with many more that will be brought from zoos in other countries.

"We have already started ground levelling work in the area and the project will be completed in about a year and a half," said Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, while announcing the project.

Several plans have been announced for a new zoo over the years, only to be put on hold. The announcement of a new zoo has been awaited for almost eight years and will bring relief to the animals in the existing 1.5 hectare zoo in Jumeirah.

There were several announcements on previous occasions regarding the building of a new zoo and it was to be located at Al Mushrif or Dubailand. However, the projects were put on hold.

The new project, which is estimated to cost Dh150 million, will have a safari and butterfly park, botanical garden, golf course, entertainment and recreational areas.

"The area will have different villages like African, Asian and Arabian for animals coming from different geographical areas and will have a matching architecture and landscaping. Also, we will use different types of transport, which will run using solar energy, to take visitors from one place to the other in the area," said Lootah.

The project involved a study of about three months and the civic body has introduced the concept of a safari as adopted in countries like Singapore and Thailand.

"There was an overcrowding of animals in the existing zoo. The new one is not a real safari, we have created an idea. As the project completes, the animals from the old zoo will be shifted to the new place," said Lootah. "We have agreements with other zoos and there will be more animals," he added.

Dubai Safari, that covers 60 hectares of the total area, aims to establish the best centre for wildlife in the world, provide a variety of environments appropriate for different animals, attract visitors from different parts of the world and use modern interactive methods in control and movement to ensure a unique experience for visitors.
Click to expand...
 
The only amazing thing about Dubai Zoo is that anyone goes there! It's probably one of the world's worst zoos.

I lived in Dubai for 13 years (1999-2013) and heard many anouncements about a new Dubai Zoo but they were all false dawns.

Internet searches for Dubai Safari only bring up desert offroad trips.
 
It's going to have a resort and golf course as well. Yippee, just what Dubai needs, another golf course!
 
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