Zoolife November edition - Insights from Al Ain Zoo

NOVEMBER 2018

“My advice for a better future is: there is always room at the top!”

HAYA AL AMERI

Technology at Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre

THE SERVAL

UPCOMING EVENTS IN DECEMBER 2018 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.

Abu Dhabi

Please send the photographs to zoolife@alainzoo.ae

02 DEC The Official 47th UAE National Day Celebration Zayed Sports City

UNTIL 26 JAN Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival Al Wathba

Al Ain 02 DEC National Day Celebration Al Jahili Fort

16 - 27 DEC Winter Camp This playful banded mongoose posed calmly in front of our visitor waiting for a photo while showing off its soft thick fur and its bright eyes.

It’s good that our visitor was able to capture this beautiful shot before it starts digging for food.

Taken by Visitor: Roy Alvarez

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Al Ain Zoo

UNTIL 18 DEC Audi Exhibition Al Ain Zoo

OUR TEAM Animal care… is a passion that’s rests on knowledge Our team is a group of unique Emirati men and women who have gone far beyond the norm and humbled us by their example.

They embark on new adventures and challenges with strides of confidence and pride.

They are working at all times for the care and well-being of animals, giving them plenty of attention and love. You find them busy taking care of all the animals at the Zoo, primates, carnivores, reptiles, birds and others. Each member of the team i s responsible for a specific species - to care for and study it closely.

Animal care requires a range of multitasking skills, including monitoring animals and recording details of their diet, physical condition and behavior, as well as providing day-to-day care of their hygiene, safety, exercise, and then completing daily reports on assigned animals.

We always make sure that we hire the finest experts in the field of animal care who are passionate about their job. They are dedicated,

self-confident, have good attention to detail, they are patient and cautious. There is no room for error when handling animals, especially when it comes to dealing with predators.

This skillful Emirati team consists of 4 women and 5 men. They are all capable of understanding animal behavior. In return, the animals are very attached to their careers and they become best friends, they feel happy in their company, and they can get sad when left alone.

With all the success and uniqueness our team is famous for, what’s even more fascinating and powerful is that women have been at the forefront of the team.

For instance, Mahra Al Shamsi was at the forefront of animal care in 2009, and her colleague Jawahar Al Shamsi was the first Emirati bird trainer in the UAE.

We are so proud of our team and the way they are very good at dealing with animals, in addition to showing great hospitality and respect to our visitors. They are keen to introduce visitors to animals, their stories and characteristics. Not only that, they also provide unique experiences in which visitors interact directly with the animals, including the popular birds of prey show, fascinating walk-through lemur experience and giraffe feeding.

Al Ain Zoo is keen to constantly invest in these skills through continuous training and updating knowledge, in order to intensify their passion with well-studied experience in the very best areas of training.

The team consists of: Mahra Al Shamsi Jawaher Al Shamsi Latifa Al Shamsi Reem Al Kaabi Ahmed Al Dhaheri Mayed Al Blooshi Saeed Al Zaabi Saeed Al Shamsi Omar Al Nuaimi ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | November 2018 | 3

My Story

The Arabian Sand Cat I am a one of a kind cat. I am very famous for my beauty and gracefulness. I might seem meek, but I’m secretly brutal and fierce. I might appear to be a bit shy and introvert, yet I like to spend time with my friends and family. I do not welcome people’s intrusions very much.

I am the Arabian Sand Cat. At first glance, I might look like any pet cat; however, I am totally different from the playful cat at your house or the friendly one you meet every day down the street.

On the contrary, I am a lover of wilderness; I like to live in the desert. Since I have lost most of my family, I am quite rare, and I am about to become extinct. Then, I was very lucky to find the help of people who are interested in protecting wildlife and preserving endangered animals, like me.

Can you believe that Al Ain Zoo has become my best friend? Yes, that’s true! My numbers have been declining and decreasing in the wild so much that I have been

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added to the list of endangered animals. Then, Al Ain Zoo found me, began looking after me and we are 40 cats now. This is considered a real success, since this is the largest number of Arabian Sand Cat in the world. Not only that, but Al Ain Zoo has also collaborated with external institutes to help multiply my numbers, by applying artificial insemination techniques among my species in North America, Europe and the Middle East. This has successfully resulted in reproducing three more brothers, but sadly they died due to complications in birth. However I’m optimistic that my Zoo won’t let me go extinct. It is currently undertaking the second trial and we are all hoping for the best.

I have also heard confirmed news that it will prepare a field trip to the Sweihan area to search for some more sand cats. The Zoo is also planning to establish a specialized center with the highest global standards to take care of my species and continue to multiply my number.

Al Ain Zoo is my home and family, thank you for showing me so much love and care. I do appreciate all the efforts you make to take care of me. I am very grateful for my animal observer friends with whom I spend many wonderful times.

As part of its mission to promote environmental awareness, Al Ain Zoo has been keen to involve the community to protect the Arabian Sand Cat, which is considered a fundamental element of biodiversity in the UAE. Consequently, Al Ain Zoo organizes many activities throughout the year in this regard, such as the Conservation Festival, and other camps and events, media appearances and the production of cultural, educational and academic publications.

These efforts are made in order to educate and advise the local and international community on the importance of protecting the Arabian Sand Cat and other endangered animals.

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the observer

Conservation Festival 7 - 9 Nov

Flag Day

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1 Nov

experiences

Technology at Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre The interactive exhibits at Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre give our visitors a whole new experience. Apart from the vibrant techniques and the bright colors, it provides our visitors with a lot of information about the heritage of the UAE and our founding leader, the late Sheikh Zayed, through multimedia and visual materials that have been specially designed by world-class experts and specialists.

Needless to say, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre needs no introduction; however, ZooLife has decided to go on a journey through

the Centre to explore and learn more about the unique techniques.

The Cultural Guide welcomed us warmly with a bright smile. We started our journey by visiting the Sheikh Zayed Tribute Hall where you listen and see presentations that remind you of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The techniques have been designed specifically to help visitors and students discover and study the geographical history of the UAE. This modern technology also allowed us to see and explore the fossils up close and carry out research through the electronic

screens.

Whenever ZooLife stopped at a certain point, these interactive exhibitions showed so many stories, archeological discoveries and the civilization in the UAE in several areas of environment and wildlife. In addition, it showed us how Sheikh Zayed was very keen on preserving nature.

The Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre is very rich with modern technologies that made it very easy to deliver information and history.

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Animal life

The Serval

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The serval is a mediumsized African wild cat.

DNA studies have shown that it is closely related to the African Golden Cat and the Caracal.

The Serval has many names, including Beg, Ashabeel, Giraffe Cat and Tree Cat. Habitat The Serval inhabits the savannah and grasslands, it was witnessed once in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, but this is without a confirmed sighting since 1930.

The Serval prefers areas with cover such as reeds and tall grasses and proximity to water. They are good swimmers and can feed on fish as a source of food.

Serval ears are bigger than any other cat compared to the size of its body.

Features It is a slender animal, with long legs and a fairly short tail with 6 or 7 black rings, the hind legs being longer than its front legs.

The head is small in relation to the body, and the tall, oval ears are set close together. Its coat is basically golden-yellow to buff, and extensively marked with black spots and stripes. The Serval is a highly efficient hunter, using its

sense of hearing to locate prey, and it can leap over 10 feet above the ground to hunt its prey. It can also make horizontal leaps up to 13 feet to catch birds.

Food Servals are carnivores, they feed on different species such as birds, rabbits, snakes, lizards, frogs and insects. When they get the chance, they hunt bigger animals like antelopes. They eat the prey very quickly, causing it to occasionally choke due to a clogged throat.

Serval cats run at a speed of up to 80 km per hour. They appear to be efficient hunters with a hunting success rate of 50%.

Family life It lives on its own territory and hunts individually in the early morning or at dusk. It usually sleeps during the midday period and sleeps for a very short time at night. In the daytime, you hardly ever see Serval cats because of its unique fur coat that allows it to camouflage and hide into his surroundings when hunting. As most cats, it often plays with its food before eating.

Servals can locate prey by echolocating their vibrations.

Lifespan Serval cats can live up to 10 years in the wild, and 20 years in captivity.

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The presence of the late Sheikh Zayed among his people was a source of reassurance and satisfaction to them. His people’s attachment to him significantly grew day after day, because everyone was aware that he did not seek power or authority. On the contrary, he had always been the bearer of responsibility. He is the source of pride and honor to each and every one of his people.

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan 10 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | November 2018

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Instagraming

alainzoouae

185 likes

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Places Real Time Energy Monitoring Display Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre Series When you look up during your journey through this vibrant Centre, you will notice the energy measuring monitors. It will draw your attention with its beautiful lights and brilliant colors that they display to represent the beauty of nature.

Four real time energy-monitoring displays have been installed at the main entrance, main theatre, VIP entrance and the Sand Cat Cafe area. These monitors observe everything happening in the Centre, including the events, visitor numbers and activities, and even the purity level of the air that we breathe as soon as we enter the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

They

are

interactive

touch

screens that monitor energy consumption. It is one of the criteria of sustainability through which the Centre was credited with the highest possible levels of LEED Platinum and Estidama 5 Pearl certification. These monitors record the ratio of per capita consumption of water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, and degree of pollution that may be that the Centre may be exposed to based on the number of visitors and on the time of the visit; whether it is in the evening, morning or midday.

The screens consist of numbers, shapes and drawings that require our skillful Emirati guides to accompany you in order to explain all these details. In addition, it gives you a measure of the atmosphere purity around you and

your impact on the environment throughout your stay at the Sheikh Zayed Desert Leaning Centre. The screens are not confined just to the building interior, the energy monitors also include a solar panel array that shines brightly on the roof of the Centre.

Solar panels and the monitor screens go hand in hand, giving a record in real-time of the movement of the clouds and the sun in order to identify the rate of energy consumption of solar panels and also identify the generation of electricity minute by minute, hour by hour, as well as the percentage of harmful gases which are to be avoided.

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Our Experts Initiated a mobile library in her department and contemplates the world through yoga and reading!

Haya Nasser Al Ameri

“My advice for a better future is: there is always room at the top!”

As we began our interview with her, Haya said spontaneously, “I’m not sure if I have anything to say.”

So we asked her to tell us about her life and dreams, and we were astonished by how persistent, ambitious and optimistic she is. She fills her heart with selfinvestment, humanity, and love for her country. These valuable traits pushed her to become an Emirati role model whose youthful wisdom was derived from ‘Zayed Al Khair’.

Haya Nasser Al Ameri, Senior Training Officer at the HR Department, got her Degree from United Arab Emirates University with a major specialization in Social Work and a sub-specialization in Women’s Science. She then persued a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from Abu Dhabi University and later worked at Al Ain Zoo, having completed 725 training hours over the past four years and 240 volunteer hours in 2018.

She has become a Certified International Trainer and a member of the Emirates Toastmasters Club, and now is in the process of becoming a member of the Arab Youth Center in Abu Dhabi while currently preparing her PhD. How did you develop your strong determination?

“I find my happiness in everything related to humanity. In giving, we find mutual joy, and in knowledge we get mutual benefit. When we give to others, we learn to grow wiser and get rid of our ego.”

She has also traveled on many exploratory trips in order to explore, exchange ideas, and learn best practices.

“Since I have a great passion for community work, my return to volunteer work was my main goal for

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the Year of Zayed. So I traveled on a voluntary trip to Sri Lanka where I accomplished plenty of things that were on my list. About 340 students benefited from our work. I lived in three different places, I lived with a stranger I never met before, and I met about 40 people from seven different countries around the world.

I learned and benefited from every person I met and tried so many things for the first time. I believe that the best experiences that build our personality are the ones we make outside our comfort zone. Most importantly though, I achieved one of my dreams in the ‘Year of Zayed’ and I did something our father used to love: good deeds.”

She added, “Although I have huge passion for charity and community work, this experience has been different in so many ways. I am sure it is the greatest yet the hardest experience I have ever had. This is where I rediscovered myself once again.”

And before you travel to Sri Lanka?

“At the university, I had a suite where I produced shirts with handmade logos and drawings which was a new trend back then. I allocated the profit from sales to charity and humanitarian aid. I have always Haya Al Ameri

shared my ideas of charity work and volunteer work on my social media accounts.”

in the organization and to show all employees that their workplace is where they achieve their passion.

We’ve learnt that you’ve joined Al Ain Zoo for a very humanitarian reason, which is making others happy, how true is this?

Did you achieve your Year of Zayed dreams?

“I started off by working at Ahlan Special Service and this is where I discovered a world of cultures and interests that I never knew about.

I met many people, and some of them are engraved in my memory until this moment, such as the child Mohammed from the Al Dhafra region. It was one of my greatest achievements to stand out in my work place and feel that I am adding value because of what I do. I meet all types of visitors, the open-minded and the close-minded, supporters and discouragers, however the common thing among all of them is the smile I drew to their faces.”

Why did you move to the training department?

“Change is one of the basics of selfdevelopment, and training does not contradict my message of making others happy. However, it adds a new dimension to happiness in exchanging knowledge and experience. My role has been to leave an impact on every Emirati

“My dream was to do everything that would make him proud if he was still here among us, so I intensified my volunteer work with the UAE Red Crescent inside and outside the country. I gave several courses voluntarily. I got three credits for international training and I participated in personal and institutional youth activities. The one I am most enthusiastic about is my upcoming participation in the annual celebration of the UAE National Day at Zayed Sports City 2018. I am now about to join the Abu Dhabi Youth Council to be a link between my peers and leaders of my country.”

“Another important aspect is my passion for reading. I have created a mobile library in the Training Department to encourage my colleagues to read more and become passionate about knowledge. I called this library a “Journey of Knowledge”, because I believe that books are the ‘airplane’ that takes us on journeys all over the world, the writer is the captain and the reader is the traveler who enjoys this flight of knowledge and experience he discovers.”

“I have also learned yoga meditation in order to help me balance between body and spirit, work and rest.”

Finally, can you tell us how we can boost our willpower and determination?

Haya answered enthusiastically: “Sharing success with people around you, because life is all about give and take. One more thing, you should always be dedicated to serving humanity and loving your country.”

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I can catch my breath underwater for roughly 5 minutes!

Did you know that the Serval has the longest legs of any kind of cats!

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Mask!

Get creative with the Serval mask!

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October Edition Question

Which type of gazelle is the only of its kind that is capable of delivering twins regularily?

How many toes does the African Wild Dog have on its front legs?

Four toes!

Send your answers to zoolife@alainzoo.ae and see if you got the right answers!

Ghaf Tree This flowering mangrove tree has quite a fruitful history. It is the tree under which our wise father took refuge from the sun and never forgot its favors. It is the tree which Sheikh Zayed preferred the most. In ancient times, it was thought to be the Ghaf tree which accompaniedour long history, gave us food and medicine, and brought our families together.

This is where our late father Zayed used to make his plans for a better future and also where he met his friends to tackle topics about the future of the UAE, that’s why it was called the ‘Democratic Tree’.

Once upon a time, one of his friends asked him why he was always sitting under this Ghaf tree. His wise response was that he wanted to study the land he intended to develop. Our late father was farsighted and his ambitions about the future had no limits.

and encouraged his people to keep growing it. It had so many names, it’s called “Oud” when still small and “Shabhana” when it gets older. It survives the hot weather and drought, grows rapidly and profusely in the UAE.

Sheikh Zayed took care of this very special tree, he banned cutting it down all over the country. He continued to urge its preservation

Our father, the late Sheikh Zayed, was a lover of nature, desert, trees and animals. Besides his concern with taking care of his people and

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urban development, he was very concerned with nature and the environment.

Whenever we walk around the corridors and halls of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center, we find examples of his wisdom in every corner, we see his goals, dreams, ambitions, and achievements.

You should

never regret your decisions, for the

experience you have gained can

build your

personality and help you become wise enough to avoid making the same mistake again

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