Zoolife July edition - Insights from Al Ain Zoo

JULY 2018

My dream is to start kids furniture business

Nouf Al Blooshi

Scimitar Oryx Survival Journey

Ring-tailed lemur

UPCOMING EVENTS IN JULY 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.

Please send the photographs to zoolife@alainzoo.ae

Abu Dhabi 01 July – 31 August ‘Around the Programme

World’

Summer

Al Bahia Library, Al Wathba Library, Zayed Central Library, Marfa Library, Mazyad Library, Khalifa Park Library

28 July Unite with Tomorrowland Du Hall, Yas Island

Al Ain 04 July – 13 August Around the World Bawadi Mall

08 - 19 July “Following Summer Camp Al Ain Zoo

It was walking calmly and gracefully through the green fields, until it saw one of our visitors approaching it. That’s when all of a sudden it started to spread its magnificent plumes into a full-blown circular form, imitating a wonderful palette of colors, with its usual pride. It has always been called, ‘King of Birds’.

Taken by: Nader Al-Jenaby

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Zayed’s

Steps”

Environment, Health and Safety Team...

A Protector The Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Team is a fundamental pillar and an important part of the institutional work, always eager to ensure applying the occupational health and safety rules and regulations, in order to protect workers from potential hazards and to protect work facilities from any damages.

The EHS team believes that Al Ain Zoo’s cadres are the foundation of economic and social development and it is the most important side of the production triangle, which consists of employees, work equipment, and work environment.

That is why it is necessary to provide a problem-free work environment to keep up employees’ productivity.

The EHS team also works on inspecting projects, work sites, Zoo facilities and checking health and safety standards, as well as, investigating accidents.

EHS team also checks and monitors the safety equipment periodically, including first aid, fire extinguishers and fire detectors, because of their importance in achieving occupational safety and minimizing the damages caused by any accidents in the work environment.

guidance. The EHS team is keen on providing specialized training for the Zoo employees, including evacuation of buildings in case of fire or any other hazards that threaten the safety of the workers within the facility.

The EHS team has played an effective role in helping the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre receive the LEED Platinum rating, making it the first in Abu Dhabi to achieve the highest sustainability rating and an example for future projects to follow.

The EHS team is keen on committing to sustainability requirements in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre during the operational stage and monitoring the consumption of water and electricity in both, the

Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre and the Zoo. It also raises awareness among visitors and the public about the importance to preserving and sustaining the environment, through awareness campaigns and activities such as “EnviroWalk”. The EHS team also assists in the Zoo waste management, by monitoring its quantities, recycling and following environmental waste disposal procedures.

Since the safety of workers is the EHS team main goal, you will always find them available to promote health and safety standards and create a professional environment free of any hazards on human health and safety.

Ahmed Alnuaimi - EHS

Externally, the EHS team works on monitoring and organizing work orders for Zoo suppliers and service providers, through reviewing the requirements of health and safety, and providing the necessary ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | July 2018 | 3

Scimitar Oryx Survival Journey What do you know about the Sahara Desert? It is an arid desert but it is my favourite nation. My ancestors inhabited it until the 1980s, where it suffered a huge decline in our population, leading to our extinction after few years.

How did I end up here then?

Let me share with you my story.

My ancestors lost their home after the increase of the excessive hunting rates, leaving everything behind, including their beloved land. We were scattered, some of us travelled north and others surrendered to humans, my family did the latter and my father never regretted this decision.

After we went extinct in the wild, the Sahara Conservation Fund located in the USA cooperated with the French International Union for Conservation of Nature by holding a meeting at Al Ain Zoo to conduct a study to increase our numbers. Subsequently began a success story like no other, we are the Scimitar Horned Oryx family -

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and for 3 consecutive years - our breed grew in a monitored manner taking into account our health conditions and genetic studies.

Due to that, I was born in Al Ain Safari. Did you know that it is the world’s largest man-made African Safari? I met so many friends here, but I feared getting close to the Giraffe family. As for my mom, she forbids me from approaching Ms. Ostrich; she prefers my friendship with Addax and Impala.

One of my favored moments here is definitely playing in the rain and watching Springbok’s Olympic jumps. I am currently coming up with a plan to escape tonight to enjoy watching visitors having dinner with the lions!

Scimitar Oryx was on the brink of extinction decades ago. Therefore, Al Ain Zoo worked on protecting this species, under strategies and programs that were put to conserve the Scimitar Oryx and release it in its natural habitat in cooperation with relevant bodies and organizations concerned with wildlife conservation.

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Eid Al Fitr Activities at Al Ain Zoo

“Following Zayed’s Steps” Summer Camp

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15 June

08 – 19 July

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.

The Arabian Peninsula is a natural habitat of many birds of prey hence, our effective contribution is crucial to preserve and protect their natural habitats through research and spreading awareness.

Omar Al Nuaimi chatting with the Owl

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Ring-tailed lemur

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The Ring-tailed lemur is a large Strepsirrhini primate. It is endemic to the southwestern part of Madagascar and it inhabits forest corridors and shrubs. Some of them prefer to live in damp and closed areas with little trees.

Features The lemur is characterized by its large eyes, long tapered nose, gray back, and white underside, ringed in 26 furry black and white stripes. It also has a big bushy tail that is used as a form of communication and to help maintain its balance while jumping from one tree to another.

Ring-tailed lemur has scent glands with an odor on its wrists and shoulders.

Food A lemur primarily eats fruits and leaves, particularly those of the Tamarind tree. When available, Tamarind makes up approximately 50% of the lemur’s diet yearly. Its diet also includes flowers and herbs, as well as insects and small vertebrates.

Ring-tailed lemur can walk for more than 5 km a day to search for food.

have a distinct hierarchy and socially dominate males in all circumstances, including feeding priority.

Females lead the lemur groups and live longer than males. The average age of females is more than 16 years, while the average age of males is at least 15 years. In captivity, it may live up to 27 years.

Means of communication As one of the most vocal primates, the ring-tailed lemur uses numerous vocalizations to communicate with each other.

It also has scent glands which are present on both males and females to perform a unique scent marking behavior. It uses around 15 different sounds to maintain group cohesion during the search for food or when group members are on alert for a predator or other threat.

The mating season of the lemur runs from April to June.

Endangered species Lemur is an endangered species where many have been extinct in recent centuries due to hunting and deforestation.

Behavior The Ring-tailed lemur is diurnal primate, being active exclusively in daylight hours and asleep at night. It lives on land and trees and forms groups called “troops� of up to 25 individuals. Females

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He was called “Shaboura Taweela or The Long Span”, an Emirati proverb that means ‘generous equestrian’.

‘Span’ is an ancient unit of measurement, it is the distance measured by a human hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger. This proverb is very meaningful, but in reality the late Sheikh Zayed’s generosity knew no bounds.

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alainzoouae Our Reptiles team has started a breeding program early this year and we are so happy to welcome 2 Wonder Geckos for the first time ever!

The Wonder Geckos or the Frog-eyed Gekos are critically endangered in the UAE due to habitat degradation. More eggs to hatch.. can’t wait to share the happy news!

422 likes

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Abu Dhabi over Time Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre Series In the fourth tour of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, this gallery will take us to an amazing experience of Abu Dhabi’s rich geology through “Abu Dhabi over Time” gallery.

We will wander through deserts, mountains, seas and sand dunes to learn more about Abu Dhabi’s desert origin. This gallery is divided into three main phases.

The first phase highlights internal and external factors such as wind, water and heat that formed the desert’s sand dunes and caves.

Additionally it shows how the earth movement resulted in forming tectonic plates, lava, volcanos, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

The second phase highlights the story of Abu Dhabi in the course of five periods (five rocks), the first three of which was under water. In the fourth period we will see how

fresh water, rivers and animals emerged in Abu Dhabi which is represented in an amazing highly detailed glass model. The fifth period showcases the start of the hot and dry climate which is known by special environmental features such as marshes, sand dunes and high temperatures.

During the tour you will be astonished by a magnificent cave which is a miniature replica of one of Jabal Hafeet’s caves, showing all the known inhabitants that used to be there.

The third phase of the gallery will teach us about our past through fossils and the elephant tusk remains which once roamed the Arabian Peninsula before the tectonic plate movement era that

divided the continents in Ruwais.

This fossil was discovered ten years ago by Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS. Touring Abu Dhabi over Time gallery, you will be captivated by the interest and experiences.

Instead of the modern building silence we will hear the sounds of nature such as the wind, wild animals, birds, and others.

You will experience the real wildlife in the heart of a modern architectural masterpiece surrounded by amazingly shaped marble rocks which is a part of any Emirati house today.

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Interior design is a vast horizon of art and meditation. Patience is the key to success

Nouf Al Blooshi

My dream is to start kids’ furniture business

For Nouf, a piece of paper and a pencil is what it takes to make a piece of art, create a masterpiece, or turn an ordinary space into a mind-blowing one. No one can predict where she is, but you will definitely feel her touches around you whenever you see any of her furniture artworks.

She always thinks out of the box, and sees things from her very own creative perspective. She finds her joy in a little pack of wood and few colors. Few touches here and there will result into an artistic ornate mural or a beautifully decorated door, or maybe a tea table that you’d love to sip your tea on.

This is the world of Nouf Bader Al Blooshi, Graphic Designer in Marketing and Corporate Communication department at Al Ain Zoo. She turns any traditional object into a masterpiece of unquestionable taste. She puts her touches to create a beautiful artwork for her house.

Nouf says, “I handcraft unique pieces of furniture and its accessories. I first imagine them, then turn them into pieces of art to decorate my house.

Nothing is more beautiful than an idea that you visualize and turn it into reality.”

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So, is it a hobby or a business?

“Why not combine the two?! I believe it’s very smart to turn your wants into enjoyable hobbies, and to meet your needs.”

“I am very passionate about interior design, this is where I find myself.

When I start to look at available options at the market, I find them very limited and they don’t meet my needs nor everybody’s taste. Most of the styles are very traditional. I’m always attracted to creative style of modern furniture rather than the classic one. That’s why I tend to create my own style. It is a gifted talent, and I should make the best out of it”.

Tell us about your education and work?

“I am from Ajman, I studied Interior Design and obtained my diploma from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah. Subsequently, I got a training from the Department of Geographic Information Systems in Sharjah Municipality. Finally, I was appointed at Ajman Municipality in the maps section department.”

What about Al Ain? “I moved to Al Ain city after my marriage and I joined Al Ain Zoo and worked in the graphic design field, as it is considered the closest to my major and to my passion for interior design. I was very happy when I joined this department, because I enjoy to achieve my aspirations and develop my skills.”

I learned about you having a new house, have you put your magical touches or not yet?

She smiled with her child-like features and her eyes lit up with joy saying, “Well, without a doubt. My house is still at the early preparation stage in terms of interior design and decor. But before anything, I dedicated a small room in the roof of the house for myself. It is going to be

my own little workshop and my little world. I painted all the walls of the house in bright white color, so that I would be able to work on my projects without outside interference.”

Do you remember any situations where your artistic touch had an impact on?

She answered with joy and started to tell us a story from her small kitchen “Yes, there is one time when my kitchen was all turned into turmeric yellow and this is where talk of the family started.”

She added, “Maybe the color was a bit dissatisfying when seen closely, but when you go a little bit farther, you will see how beautiful and unique it is. I am really stubborn when it comes to my artwork.”

Does the Zoo have its share from your art?

She gave me a look of pride and answered, “Well, I designed one of the most important projects of my life at the Zoo... I designed the Zoo map!”

And how’s that?

Nouf responded enthusiastically, “At that time, my sources were very limited, I depended only on an old

map and the staff support. I was working 24/7 for four consecutive months, and I was roaming around the Zoo to make sure that all the details were accurate, until my new map was issued in 2013. No words can describe my joy and pride with this work, which added a great deal of experience and made me more familiar with the Zoo in a limited period of time.”

What are your creative plans for the future?

“I’m thinking seriously to set up a kids’ furniture business. Working on children’s projects unleashes creativity, joy and limitless innovation.

For example, I have ideas to create a two-level room that meets kid’s needs and also gives them space to have fun and play. Sometimes I think of a bed with decorative cabinets and another one with a shape of a house... There are lots of ideas that I will plan to achieve.”

Finally, how do you describe handicrafts?

“It is a kind of a positive energy discharge, a vast horizon of meditation, and a method of learning from errors and repeated attempts where you will finally achieve success.

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Choose the correct shadow

Ring-tailed lemurs have scent glands, as they use the scent to communicate with each other.

He is a cocky bird with fine legs and pink feathers who spend his life on the lakeshore

Find the 12 differences

June Edition Question

When was the opening of the Hippo & Crocodile Exhibit?

What endangered species was the reason behind the establishment of Al Ain Zoo? Arabian Oryx

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

The Present and the Future How beautiful it is to look outside from the third floor terrace of Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre. An overwhelming view with Jabal Hafeet dominating the background, intervened with the Zoo’s successful projects. The terrace will take us to a journey through time, represented in three views.

The first view will take you to the early days of our Zoo in 1968,

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when it was founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – the Father of the Nation. This view will always reminds us of our father’s vision to preserve nature and protect endangered animals.

The second view overlooks our Zoo at the present time. You will see the main gate that was recently opened providing various facilities for our guests. As soon as you look outside the terrace, you will feel the

warm family atmosphere and hear the laughs of children mixed with sound of nature.

From the third view of the terrace, you will see the future of our Zoo represented in the hard work that is still ongoing, doing our best to complete the future projects, and more importantly, complete what our father and our leadership started.

Happiness is contagious. It can be transferred directly from one person to another. Always make sure to smile to people around you, you will feel joy and positive energy filling your soul when they smile back at you.