April 2019
“Self-sufficiency is a pleasure many of us lack�
Sultan Al Neyadi A short story on how to turn plastic into an island!
Red-eared Slider
UPCOMING EVENTS 2019
A free space for the wonders of light and lens, that we leave up to the visitors’ and webpage surfers’ creativity. Share your picture with us, and let it speak for you. Please send the photographs to zoolife@alainzoo.ae
Abu Dhabi UNTIL 18 MAY
Rembrandt, Vermeer & the Dutch Golden Age Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection and the Musée du Louvre Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island
UNTIL 01 JUNE Zimoun Exhibition
New York University Saadiyat Island
Abu
Dhabi,
UNTIL 08 JUNE
Artists And The Cultural Foundation: The Early Years Cultural Foundation
Al Ain 31 MAY Studio 6
Al Qattara Arts Centre
The breathtaking scene of butterflies and flowers made our visitors leave (forget) everything and take pictures. Our care for animals and insects reflects the beauty of the zoo. By: Sanjay Bhosle
UNTIL 14 SEPT
Qasr Al Muwaiji: A Lens On History Programme Qasr Al Muwaiji, Al Ain
UNTIL 31 DEC
Al Qattara Arts Workshops 2019 Al Qattara Arts Centre
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Centre
OUR TEAM
School Programmes Team The School Programmes Team at Al Ain Zoo is an energetic team with a high team spirit that promotes positive thinking and competition. The team conducts field and office work, offering two to three hours of educational programmes for school students from different levels within Al Ain Zoo and at the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre. The team has developed interesting educational programmes such as a tour around the Zoo and an interactive activity with a chosen animal from the Zoo. It also carries awareness programmes in schools, universities and various events, as well as holding activities
and heritage programmes at the Sheikh Zayed Learning Centre and those schools on a weekly basis. The team also participates in the Zoo’s activities by developing and implementing multiple educational workshops such as the Conservation Festival and Cultural & Environmental Forum in cooperation with the Research Centre at the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, along with other interesting activities. It also arranges interactive educational activities for Zoo camps, which take place in spring, summer and winter, attracting 100 participants a week. ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | April 2019 | 3
SHORT Story
Wave of Change Written by: Sainath Manikandan One of the winners in the Short Story Writing Competition 2018 Category: 8 - 10 years
Mohammed Ahmed is an Emirati boy who lives with his family in the United Arab Emirates. His father Ahmed, is a school teacher and environmentalist. His mother is a housewife. Mohammed has 2 younger brothers. After their school, Mohammed and his siblings play football along with their other friends in their neighborhood. As the day drew to a close, the children were tired and went to the nearby grocery shop to buy juices. The children paid the cash to the shopkeeper and returned home with a juice each in a plastic bag. It was just after 7 p.m. as the wind speed started to pick up. The children took the juice from the plastic bag and enjoyed the drink
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and were happy to be in the comfort of their home. They were in a hurry to watch their animated television series “Freej”, that they threw the plastic bag on the floor next to their sofa. The window unexpectedly swung open due to the wind, and the plastic bag was swept out and up into the sky. A few passersby saw and giggled at the plastic bird which was flying in the sky. It just took a few minutes for the plastic bag to reach the coastline. The fishes swam beside the plastic bag. The plastic bag flew on relentlessly, being carried by the strong wind across the raging waters. It just took the plastic bag a few days to meet its other family members, there were
red ones, white ones, blue ones, shopping bags, postal bags, and all collected together in one place. The entire plastic family had collected together in unison and formed an enormous island of debris. It was just millions of tons of plastics in the middle of the ocean and nothing else. The miniscule plastic particles of toxic waste appeared like plankton or small edible bits for the fishes. They happily eat the abundance of food. The t.v. show ended and the children were hungry. The children sat at their dinner table and were informing the day’s happenings to their parents. Ahmed was patiently listening without interrupting them. Mohammed was about to eat the fish that was
served on his plate. He saw something nestling between the fish’s degutted stomach. He tried to pull it out. It was small particles of plastics. He shouted to his parents and siblings. His father informed them about the consequences of single-use plastics and its threat faced by the marine species and humans. Plastic is not your body’s best friend. Plastic in the ocean breaks down into small particles that affect the marine environment. When we eat fish, we eat plastics. They understood the aftereffects of single-use plastics and pledged to reduce plastic pollution. They promised their parents that they will create a wave of change in their school and community and beat plastic pollution.
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the observer
Earth Hour | 28 - 30 March 2019
Spartan Race | 15 March 2019
MOU with Abu Dhabi Vocational Education & Training Institute | 30 March 2019 6 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | April 2019
experiences
Travel to Africa Al Ain Zoo welcomed its visitors with a carnival during this year’s African Week, which included a variety of activities such as live performances and folklore shows inspired by African wildlife, which gave visitors the opportunity to learn about the rich cultures of the continent. The events, which ran for two weeks until April 12th, was held in the Zoo’s Africa Desert
World and featured a fascinating variety of theatrical performances, acrobatic shows, fire shows, drumming and workshops for children with African puppets, masks and hair adornment, in addition to several programs for families. African Week was a wonderful opportunity for all family members to enjoy a magical African carnival. ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | April 2019 | 7
Animal life
Red-eared slider
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A species of turtles that belongs to the family of Emydidae, which is one of the most popular pets in the United States and in the rest of the world. This turtle is an easyto-preserve animal and therefore, becomes the world's most widely traded turtles. It is included in the list of the 100 most widespread species in the world according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Natural habitat The red-eared slider originated in the area around the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, in warm climates in the southeastern United States. Its native areas range from the southeast of Colorado to Virginia and Florida. In nature, it inhabits areas with a source of still and warm water, such as ponds, lakes, swamps, creeks, streams or slow-flowing rivers.
Characteristics The red stripe on each side of the head distinguishes the redeared slider from all other North American species and gives this species its name. Its upper shell is oval and flat (especially in males) and its color is dark brown with distinctive brown markings. Its lower plastron is yellow, with irregular dark markings. The head, legs, and tail are green with fine, irregular, yellow lines. The male tail is longer and thicker than the tail of the female and its claws are longer. The length of the female’s claws is 25 - 33 cm, while the male’s is only 20 - 25 cm tall, meaning that males are usually shorter than females. Food The red-eared slider is an omnivore that feeds on fish, crab, small frogs and snails, as well as, many species of water plants. It
needs calcium to support its shell and keep it solid. Baby sliders of this type are more likely to be carnivores. Pet turtles usually eat lettuce, fish and prawns. Behavior The red-eared slider is almost an aquatic animal. It comes out of the water only to sunbathe and lay eggs. It is also a fast reptile that catches its food whenever it has the opportunity. Being cautious of humans and other animals, it can eat its food in the water like all turtles. Age The red-eared slider can live in the wild for up to 30 years, and up to 40 years in captivity.
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The establishment of the Mohammed
bin Rashid
Al Maktoum Award for World Peace took place in 2011, which is based on the tolerant Islamic values of peace and moderation, as well as Islam’s role in creating channels of communication with people around the world in order to promote international relations and achieve world peace.
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His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi In 2017,
and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, named the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Mosque in Al-Mashref “Mariam, Umm Eisa� mosque - Peace be upon them. This has strengthened the human relations between the religions as recommended by Islam.
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Instagraming
alainzoouae Can you spot him? #newbornphotography #newbornbaby #AlAinZoo 246 likes
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Conservation
The Role of Modern Zoos Zoos are no longer just an entertainment destination. They demonstrate a great environmental message when they started to care about conservation and helping to stop the disappearance of animals living in their natural habitat. In order to achieve this goal, zoos provide a number of strategies, including scientific research, conservation of species outside their habitat and natural habitat return. Zoos also protect animals’ wilderness by promoting environmental awareness and educating the community. In addition, they promote environmental friendly lifestyles and support charitable organizations dedicated to improve animal welfare and nature preservation. What about our Zoo? Established in 1968, Al Ain Zoo is one of the world's most
unique zoos, helping to protect endangered animals. With the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it has been an environmental centre for conservation since the beginning. Al Ain Zoo has recognized that the desert environment is a unique and valuable biological diversity, as well as being home to millions of people. However, the environment suffers from serious issues such as grazing, hunting, desertification, development and climate change. These issues have threatened many species in deserts and the international interest in the conservation of the desert biodiversity is relatively low. Consequently, Al Ain Zoo has given special attention to conservation through the establishment of research projects and engaging in local and global partnerships, all of which benefit the desert species and habitats endangered.
We saved it before extinction! Many mammal species at the Zoo are endangered, four highly at risk and two that unfortunately, have already been extinct from the wild. Additionally, there are19 species of birds and many types of reptiles. endangered too. As for the Arabian Oryx and the associated types of antelopes and deers, the zoo works on the international propagation of some of the most endangered genus including: •
About 250 of the rhizomes, which are extinct from the wild, are found only in zoos.
•
More than 70 Dama gazelle are critically endangered and 300 only are remaining.
•
More than 150 Arabian Oryx.
•
More than 80 Addax that are highly endangered.
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Our Experts
He proved that retirement is the beginning of giving and self-investment Sultan Al Neyadi:
“Self-sufficiency is a pleasure many of us lack, and Emirati youths are moving confidently towards the future.” Sultan Al Nayadi
Contrary to what is common in the society, he has proved that retirement is the beginning of giving, learning and selfinvestment. While others consider that retirement is the start of surrendering to emptiness and boredom, Sultan Salem Al Neyadi, a Tour Guide, can confidently say that one is capable of giving and developing at all stages of life. This is a matter of determination and management that we have to commit to in order to move forward, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. "I have served in the armed forces for more than 25 years and my job in the zoo was a result of an unexpected coincidence. I met an old friend in an occasion and he was a staff at Al Ain Zoo. He told me about the zoo, assuring that it will have a brilliant future that promise the Emirati cadres.” Sultan says. "I kept thinking about his words to me, wondering if building leadership and future limited to youth only. Can’t a retired man with experience and ambition contribute to shaping the future? I have been retired since three years and many of my friends are working even after retirement, why not try?" "After thinking, I decided to apply for a job at Al Ain Zoo, and I was offered a security officer role, which I was proud of because I was the first Emirati to occupy this position. The situation was different then, not all of these Emirati cadres were there. The Zoo was limited to few departments such as the Vet Clinic, the Facilities Management and the Fleet transportation. When I think of what the zoo has reached since my appointment in 2003 until today, I feel proud."
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"I began to develop myself and capabilities, by learning the English language within the training programmes at Al Ain Zoo. I excelled at it and I was rewarded with an iPad. Then, I recalled the days when I was a student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in the UK and I was unable to complete my studies because of the English language!"
Have you not thought about establishing your own blacksmithing or carpentry workshops?
Do you speak English well now?
When did you move from being a security officer to a tour guide?
Sultan laughs and says, “Not only English. I speak Urdu and Filipino. I am also one of the first employees to join Al Ain Zoo's training programme “Coursera”, which was launched by the Abu Dhabi School of Government. Al Ain Zoo has opened up a wide range of knowledge and challenges to me and all employees. Do you have any other interests? "I like to explore interesting professions such as blacksmithing, carpentry and electricity, so I studied it and found it extremely enjoyable."
"I did not really think about it, but I have learned these professions to rely on myself when it comes to home chores. I do not need blacksmiths, carpenters, or electricians, now, because self-sufficiency is an enjoyable independence."
"The change did not happen directly. I held a supervisory position before and then, moved to cultural and tourism guidance at the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre." What is your role as a guide? "Tour guiding is not only taking visitors around in that sense, rather I provide the visitor a complete and unique experience by ensuring all facilties of the centre are functioning well as I help to meet all the centre’s needs. After each tour, I monitor
the facilities and screens and provide reports to the concerned departments." "The Centre has a valuable architectural importance practically and morally so we all have to contribute to its safety. Although we are moving forward towards environmental awareness in society, we still need more time for society to realize the importance of preserving nature and saving wildlife from extinction. This is expected, because we are addressing a community culture that needs to be reshaped." After 16 years at Al Ain Zoo, how do you describe your experience? "I am pleased with the awareness of young Emiratis. When I compare their attitudes now to how we were 40 years ago. I feel happy with the strength of our youth and willingness to serve the country in all fields without feeling ashamed or shy like, especially in the field of animal protection and care."
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MEDIA
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