2020مجلة حديقة الحيوانات بالعين "زوولايف " مارس - ZooLife March Edition 2020

MARCH 2020

A speed race

between cheetah and saluki

Western Lowland Gorilla

excels gracefully in climbing fruit trees READ MORE

Haleema Al Hammadi witnesses the foundation of huge companies supported the UAE’s economic development

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 1

VISITOR LENS

Dama Gazelle is the largest of all gazelles and the most threatened gazelle in the world. They can stand on their hind legs to eat from Acacia trees as high as 2 meters from the ground.

CONTENT

Photo by: Avelinoken

2 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

05 EXPERIENCE

06-07 PLANTS

13-14 OUR EXPERTS

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 3

our team

Veterinary Diagnostic and Research Centre Al Ain Zoo’s Veterinary Diagnostic and Research Centre is the only centre in the United Arab Emirates dedicated to wildlife. The Centre conducts routine medical check-ups for all the animals in the Zoo, including blood tests and microbiological examinations.

The Centre is operated by Bakhita Al Hbabi and Mouza Alneyadi, both of whom are Emiratis who are devoting their futures and studies in the field of laboratory analyses, working together to provide animals with appropriate care.

Bakhita and Mouza’s tasks are to conduct all required examinations, for which they have familiarised themselves with animal diseases and are able to identify causes of animal deaths.

4 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

Blood tests, for example, help veterinarians diagnose and treat sick animals and provide them with all their needs.

Working in the Center for Veterinary Examinations and Specialized Research in the Zoo goes against the stream of occupational routine, nothing comparable to the acquisition of knowledge and apical information by experienced and highly qualified experts in the fields related to wild animals and laboratory analyzes.

Experiences

Al Ain Zoo hosts cheetah-saluki race Al Ain Zoo offers its visitors a unique opportunity to watch the fastest animals on earth racing against each other as cheetahs and salukis prove their amazing speeds in the Cheetah Run. During the event, visitors can enjoy watching some of the fastest animals competing and flying in a race that brings together cheetahs, salukis and even falcons while maintaining safety and security standards for the animals and visitors alike.

The event is designed to demonstrate the common characteristics of these animals, which is their incredible speed. Cheetahs can run at up to 120 Kph over short distances while salukis can run at speeds of around 75Kph, but can maintain this speed for up to three miles.

Al Ain Zoo visitors can watch the race up close to the animals amongst the amazing diversity of wildlife and vast green areas at a venue that can seat more than 150 spectators and offers various facilities and services. Visitors also have the chance to meet with our animal trainers to learn more about the characteristics of these animals, their stories, the threats to their existence, and procedures taken by Al Ain Zoo to preserve them from extinction.

Our Zoo is closed currently in compliance with the government’s direction to take precautionary measures to prevent corona virus, and we will resume all activities and enjoyable experiences after re-opening it at another notice.

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 5

Plants

Arta Plant Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat or Knotweed family) Plant name: Arta, Waragaat as-shams Scientific name: Calligonium comosum

Traditional uses: Dried leaves and stems are chewed to treat toothache. Young shoots collected as salad green or powered to add milk as tonic or flavoring. Also used for the tanning of hides. Wood used as firewood (gives smokeless fires). Fruits are edible. Fodder for livestock

6 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | January March 2020 2020

DESCRIPTION

Perennial, stems branched, erect, up to 250-300 cm, smooth, cylindrical.

Yellowish juice produced when stems are broken. Leaves only appear on young spring growth, lance shaped, soon falling off. Inflorescence small clusters in stem nodes. Flowers numerous, small 0.6 cm across, yellow, 5 triangular, velvety petals, fragrant at dusk. Fruit cylindrical follicle, tapering to point, 9-12 x 0.8 cm, sometimes paired. Seeds numerous, flat, brown, attached to long white hairs.

Flowering: December to March Habitat: Sand plains dunes, roadsides Distribution: Common and widespread in sand dunes and plains

ZooLife, ZooLife, AlAl Ain Ain Zoo Zoo | January | March 2020 | 7

at our zoo

Western Lowland Gorilla

Classified as an endangered species by the IUCN, the western lowland gorilla is native to the African continent, Cameroon in particular, where it lives in lowland swamps, primary and secondary forests.

The decline in numbers of the western lowland gorilla individuals is mainly due to loss and degradation of their habitats.

8 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

DIET

HABITAT

The gorilla is one of the largest primates in the world and has the longest lifespan of this species. Until recently, it was believed that there was only one kind of gorilla, but DNA analysis suggests that there are actually two kinds, the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla

Fruit is the main ingredient in the diet of the western lowland gorilla, which can travel up to 41km every day in search of food

muscular arms and neck, and strong legs. Its entire body is covered, except the face, by brown hair, and its forehead can be brown, grey, or red. Western lowland males have larger skulls and bigger canine teeth than females and other primates.

The western lowland gorillas are smaller and lighter-bodied than their eastern relatives

DESCRIPTION

The western lowland gorilla has a broad chest,

because they are agile climbers; they use this agility to climb trees to reach their food. Males are usually around 180 cm tall and weigh up to 140 kilograms, while females are around 150

The western lowland gorillas live in groups consisting of 2-20 individuals, including at least one silverback male and several adult females with their infants.

Male infants leave the group when they reach maturity to find a mate, while female infants move to another group before breeding and taking care of their infants for 4-5 years. The long interbirth interval explains the slow population growth rates that make the western gorilla so vulnerable to poaching.

LIFECYCLE

BEHAVIOUR

cm tall and weigh up to 70 kilograms.

Western lowland gorillas can live for more than 40 years in the wild or captivity.

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 9

Towards the Next 50

Committee Formation and Task Identification The year 2020 witnesses the launch of the biggest national strategy to prepare the country for the coming 50 years and for its Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021, under the banner, “2020: Towards the next 50”. In pursuit of launching the strategy, the United Arab Emirates government has directed the formation of two committees affiliated with the UAE Cabinet. One will be responsible for developing a comprehensive plan for the next 50 years, while the other will oversee the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The first committee is tasked with developing a concept for the UAE’s comprehensive plan in various fields, and improving the government’s systems to enable the UAE Government to become the most efficient, most flexible, and most adaptable to future changes. All sectors of society will take part in shaping life in the UAE for the next 50 years.

The second committee is responsible for overseeing the Emirates’ Golden Jubilee celebrations, developing a comprehensive preparation plan, forming teams to organise events and activities, and involving UAE society and the private sector in the preparations to mark the country’s 50th anniversary in 2021. It will also be developing international media plans to ensure that the magnificent Golden Jubilee celebrations are carried around the world.

10 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

Short Story Part 1

A trip to zoo Written by: Maitreyi Jain One of the stories participating in the environmental story competition in Al Ain Zoo

Ahmed, Ben and Chitra lived in the same housing complex in Al-Ain and went to the same school. Their summer vacations had started and they had gathered at Ben’s house. They were so close, everyone called them ABC. Ben had a lot of electronic gadgets and therefore his house was a fascinating place.

“We are going to the zoo”. Ben’s father said excited.

“They have been glued to these devices for three hours at a stretch.

I wonder, if this is the way they are going to spend their summer vacations.” Ben’s mother told his father one day.

Soon the three families arrived at the zoo and went towards the

“They need to spend time on other activities as well.” Ben’s father

towards the inscription outside the tiger’s enclosure.

replied.

“Ahmed’s father works at Al-Ain zoo, why don’t you ask him if there are any activities scheduled this weekend.” She continued.

“Hmm…. I’ll speak to him this evening.”

The parents had a discussion later that evening and the three families decided to take the kids to the Al-Ain zoo.

“No…..! Can’t we just stay home?” Ben said.

“And play ‘minecraft’…?” Ahmed continued smiling.

“No! It’s decided and you have no choice”. Ahmed’s mom said. tiger’s enclosure.

“Can you read out what is written there?” Ahmed’s father pointed “The tiger is the..lar…gest animal of the cat family mostly recognizable… with the cha..ract…eristics patterns of dark ver… tical stripes on its reddish orange fur with a lighter underside.”

Ahmed struggled and stammered. His eyes were too strained. after watching a movie the night before. Instinctively, his right hand moved over the inscription as he tried to zoom the script.

The weekend was just two days away. The parents kept their

Ben and Chitra burst into laughter.

plan a secret.

“Look, a pink colored ostrich!”, Chitra said confidently.

Two days later…

“This is not an ostrich, it’s a flamingo, Chitra.” Her mother said.

“Isn’t this too early?” Ahmed asked when his mom tried to wake

Meanwhile, a laughing voice came behind them, so everyone

him up.“No, it’s not. And be quick, Ben and Chitra will be here any

turned around to see the speaker!

moment”. His mom replied.

Shortly, Ben entered with his parents. Chitra and family joined soon after.

To be continued...

“Would anyone tell me, what’s the plan and where are we going?”

Chitra asked.

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 11

conservation

Strategies for the Conservation of the Dama Gazelle… the world’s rarest gazelle Al Ain Zoo’s efforts to preserve wildlife extend across various parts of the world, including its Dama Gazelle Conservation Strategy 2019-2028, which was developed by the Zoo in cooperation with several specialists from African countries and reserves that are home to this species, in addition to other zoos’ representatives from around the world.

The strategy aims to review and update the objectives and plans for conserving the dama gazelle, in addition to establishing the initial procedures to be followed in order to minimize the risk of its extinction both inside and outside its natural habitats.

The strategy focuses on updating the information about the dama gazelle in terms of numbers and location in natural habitats, and procedures followed by countries to protect the species from extinction. Also, it will address the chances of releasing it back into the wild and the potential locations

12 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

mentioned in the releasing programmes, as well as submitting the results of genetic research and potential genetic challenges to gazelles in the wild, zoos, and reserves.

In addition, the strategy looks into training requirements and specialised technical courses needed by all concerned in the domains of field research, animal relocation, and samples required for studies.

Al Ain Zoo is pioneering and proactive in the field of dama gazelle conservation of, it hosts more than 80 dama gazelles, and is the only Zoo in the world to be home to the different subspecies, the addra and mhorr gazelle.

The dama gazelle is classed as critically endangered as its current population in the wild is estimated to be as low as around just 100 .

social media

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEKS ... STAY CLOSE!

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 13

Our Experts

Dr. Haleema Mohamed Al Hammadi

“Now, after the mission was accomplished, I spontaneously smile whenever I pass by the SZDLC, and I talk to myself about this great responsibility that I’ve chosen to bear with unique and ambitious working groups to establish this architectural masterpiece.

It’s a spectacular feeling, just like the mother’s feeling when she witnesses her son growing up, getting stronger, and being successful, wishing for him to go through life in the most perfect way, and even better.”

With those words, our interviewee, Dr. Haleema Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Strategic Planning Officer at Al Ain Zoo, described the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, the closest to her heart and the biggest challenge for her.

She adds: “Only a handful of people know that the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre was originally a small hall built to honour the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah have mercy upon him, and it was planned to be built at the entrance of the Zoo, but the development plan turned it to a building. Later on, His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Zoo & Aquarium Public Institution in Al Ain at that time and Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, issued directions to transform the building to a huge edifice that conveys the concepts of sustainability in the field of architecture. It was my first sustainable project with such size and creativity to work on. I found myself having a great responsibility that represents not only the Zoo, but also the country in general.”

Witnessed the foundation of huge companies that strongly supported the UAE’s economic development.

14 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

You mentioned a development plan, can you tell us more about it?

“It was a global team of more than 60 members from different countries, including the United States, Canada, UK, Austria, and other countries. The team was established with the approval of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi to develop Al Ain Zoo. The team included a group of experts and specialists, each of whom contributed to the development process. My serial number was 4 when I joined the Zoo in 2008.”

So, does being number 4 means that you were among the early staff?

“I’m not the employee number four in the Zoo, but the fourth in the development team. I was the only Emirati woman on the team and most of its members have now left, but I found myself choosing to stay.”

And where did you work before that? ““I was an architect in the Command of Military Works for five years, I was among the first 10 female civil engineers to be hired in the Armed Forces. I’ve worked in the areas of design, implementation of specifications, building materials, and project management. I also contributed to the implementation of architectural plans for around 300 contracts across the UAE. In the subsequent five-year period, I moved to the Offset Programme, the strategic investment arm of the Armed Forces which later became Mubadala Investment Company. During this period, I witnessed the foundation of huge companies that strongly supported the UAE’s economic development, such as Al Dar Properties, where I’ve worked, Al Yah Satellite Communications, Caracal International, where I was the development manager of several projects including the Al Mamoura complex, Al Bateen Park Villas, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Motor World Automobiles, and Al Raha Beach Hotel Villas. I was also hired as a technical advisor to the Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs between 2013 and 2018 within the institutional transformation team and the governance team.”

What was your academic major?

“My dream was to study medicine, it started to come true when I got a scholarship to study outside the country and this ushered in a new dream, but after cancelling all scholarships due to the Gulf War, I changed my course to the United Arab Emirates University where I graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering.

I then completed Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in business administration. The master’s thesis was about client satisfaction with the overall quality, while my Ph.D. in operational management addressed the effect on customers of waiting for hours and their satisfaction.”

What does Al Ain Zoo represent to you?

“It’s the Zoo that I used to visit during my childhood and I never thought at this time that I would become one of those responsible for its development. Without a doubt, the Zoo made developmental leaps by developing huge projects and achieving tourism and investment growth on a global level. The Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre remains the closest to my heart and the most beautiful to me.”

Can you tell us more about other aspects of Haleema’s life?

“I consider myself a revolutionary woman, I belong to a conservative family that adheres to traditions which limit women’s work to office work only. Accordingly, studying architecture, working in this area and fieldwork were great challenges that I overcame to prove myself. And now I have become my family’s pride.”

What does Haleema love away from her work and challenges?

“I love travelling to different countries so much, and I love walking for long distances to discover these countries. I also like historical roads and cities that have their own unique smell, as well as buildings, museums, mosques and churches that tell you more whenever you wander around them. I love traditional food that reflects the culture of each country. Every country I visit has made its mark in my memory.

Reading is also one of my favourite activities;, I love reading books about self-improvement, engineering, and information that enriches my experience and knowledge. I also read novels that talk about history and civilisation, and I do not trust novels that became movies or TV series because I think they ruin literary work.”

You’ve taken on many responsibilities, tasks and challenges, what do you say to those who follow this path?

“The biggest challenge can be the balance between responsibility and dealing with individuals on the one hand, and goals and expectations on the other; we need kindness, firmness, and fairness at the same time, it’s an equation that needs effort and wisdom from whoever is in charge. There is no doubt that success can’t be achieved individually, but rather is a result of cooperation and joint effort. Challenges are not limited to leaders; every responsibility, however large or small, is a challenge that requires patience and energy.”

I joined the Zoo as a part of the development team to work for a temporary period, then I found myself choosing to stay

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 15

16 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | January March 2020 2020

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 17

18 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020 | 19

20 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020

ZooLife, Al Ain2020 Zoo |‫مارس‬ March | ‫اليف‬ 2020 ‫ | زوو‬16 21

‫كواليس الحياة البرية‬ ‫تبدأ من هنا ‪ ..‬تابعونا!‬

‫غوريال‬ ‫السهول‬ ‫الغربية‬ ‫تعتبر الغوريال واحدة من أكبر الرئيسيات في العالم وأطولها عمرًا ‪ .‬وقد‬ ‫كان اإلعتقاد السائد بأن جميع الغوريالت تتكون من نوع واحد فقط‪ ،‬لكن‬ ‫أدلة تحليل الحمض النووي أشارت إلى وجود نوعين في الواقع ‪ ،‬الغوريال‬ ‫الشرقية والغوريال الغربية‪.‬‬

‫نبات‬ ‫األرطا‬

‫فــي عــرض يســتمتع فيــه الــزوار بمشــاهدة الحيــوان األســرع علــى وجــه األرض يعــدو أمامهــم بســرعته وقوتــه المذهلــة‬ ‫تقــدم حديقــة الحيوانــات بالعيــن تجربــة جديــدة علــى مضمــار الفهــد تمكــن الزائــر مــن رؤيــة الســباق الــذي يجمــع بيــن‬ ‫الفهــود والــكالب الســلوقية‪.‬‬ ‫يحظــى الزائــر بمغامــرة مذهلــة يشــاهد فيهــا واحــدة مــن أســرع الحيوانــات وهــي تتنافــس وتحلــق فــي ســباق يجمــع‬ ‫بيــن الفهــود والــكالب الســلوقية والصقــور‪ ،‬مــع الحفــاظ علــى معاييــر األمــن والســامة للــزوار والحيوانــات‪.‬‬ ‫وعــن متعــة المشــاهدة والتفاعــل مــع التجربــة فإنهــا تعتمدعلــى اســتعراض صفــة أساســية لهــذه الحيوانــات وهــي‬ ‫الســرعة المذهلــة التــي تتمتــع بهــا‪ ،‬فالفهــود تبلــغ ســرعتها ‪ 120‬كــم فــي الســاعة‪ ،‬والــكالب الســلوقية التــي اشــتهرت‬ ‫عبــر الســنين بخوضهــا ســباقات المنافســة تســتطيع الحفــاظ علــى ســرعة ‪ 75‬كــم فــي الســاعة لثالثــة أميــال متواصلــة‪.‬‬ ‫ويمكــن للزائــر مشــاهدة الســباق بــكل وضــوح ومقربــة مــن المتســابقين علــى مــدرج يتســع ألكثــر مــن ‪ 150‬شــخصًا‬ ‫مجهــز بالمرافــق والخدمــات المتنوعــة وســط التنــوع المذهــل للحيــاة البريــة والمســاحات الخضــراء‪ ،‬باإلضافــة لفرصــة‬ ‫اإللتقــاء بمدربــي الحيوانــات للتعــرف أكثــر علــى خصائــص وصفــات هــذه الحيوانــات وقصصهــا مــع المدربيــن‪ ،‬والمخاطــر‬ ‫التــي تهــدد حياتهــا وإجــراءات حديقــة الحيوانــات بالعيــن فــي الحفــاظ عليهــا وحمايتهــا مــن االنقــراض واســتمرارية‬ ‫بقائهــا فــي البريــة‪.‬‬ ‫وســتتيح الحديقــة فرصــة االســتمتاع بهــذه التجربــة للــزوار عندمــا تفتتــح أبوابهــا مــرة أخــرى بعــد انتهــاء مرحلــة‬ ‫اإلجــراءات اإلحترازيــة للوقايــة مــن فيــروس كورونــا التــي تمــر بهــا الدولــة‪ ،‬لتســتأنف بعدهــا جميــع األنشــطة العائليــة‬ ‫والتجــارب الممتعــة التــي ينتظرهــا الــزوار‪.‬‬

36 | ZooLife, Al Ain Zoo | March 2020