Unspecified/General

In the Al Bahia district of north-eastern Abu Dhabi about 30 minutes drive north-east of central Abu Dhabi, Emirates Park Zoo is the largest private zoological park in the United Arab Emirates and one of the largest dedicated wildlife parks in the broader Abu Dhabi Emirate. The 1,700,000-square-foot zoo opened in 2008 as a private commercial operation, gradually expanding over the subsequent years to its present scale through continuous addition of new enclosures and resident species. The zoo houses approximately 1,700 individual animals representing some 250 distinct species, drawn from across the broader African, Asian, Australian, North American and South American biogeographical regions. The collection includes more than 80 mammals, 70 reptiles, 60 birds and several substantial collections of fish and invertebrates. The principal enclosure is the dramatic African Savanna section, covering approximately 200,000 square feet of recreated African savanna landscape. The savanna houses a substantial mixed herd of giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, several species of antelope and ostriches in a single integrated multi-species enclosure that closely replicates the broader African plains ecosystem. A separate adjacent lion enclosure houses the resident pride of African lions in a substantial naturalistic environment with extensive viewing windows. The Big Cat zone houses the substantial collection of tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and several species of small wild cat. The Bear zone houses the resident populations of brown bears and Asiatic black bears. The Primate House houses a substantial collection of primates including chimpanzees, several species of monkey and the popular lemur colony. The zoo also operates several substantial interactive animal-encounter programmes. The popular Giraffe Encounter allows visitors to hand-feed the resident giraffe population from an elevated wooden platform. The Lion Encounter provides supervised behind-the-scenes interaction with the lion pride from a secure observation area. The Reptile House includes hands-on interaction with several non-venomous snakes under the guidance of trained handlers. The zoo also includes a small petting zoo with sheep, goats, rabbits and small farm animals, a small playground for younger children and a substantial restaurant-and-cafe complex. The zoo operates daily with extended evening hours during the cooler winter months and reduced operating hours during the hotter summer months.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 12th Street, Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Telephone: 02-563-3100

Website: emiratesparkzoo.com

Opening Date: 01/01/2008