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As part of its commitment to the conservation of endangered species, Al Ain Zoo recently welcomed a delegation from Jersey Zoo, accompanied by H.E. Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, Minister of External Affairs of the Government of the British Channel Island of Jersey, and Jonathan White, Chairman of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which is named after the famous author and naturalist, Gerald Durrell.
Al Ain Zoo and Jersey Zoo, who have long shared a collaborative relationship, met to discuss future joint projects and development activities. Among key topics was a joint training programme focused on animal husbandry, which is the selective breeding of animals between zoos, ultimately contributing to the preservation of endangered species.
Commenting on this campaign, H.E. GhanimMubarak Al Hajeri, Director General of Al Ain Zoo,said:
“Al Ain Zoo is delighted to welcome our visitors from the British Channel Island of Jersey, including the Gerald Durrell Foundation. Our commitment to wildlife conservation is strengthened by such collaborations, and this is one of ournumerousstrategicpartnerships and programmes, both in the UAE and overseas.”
Such visits highlight that, further to offering visitors the opportunity to explore a diverse collection of approximately 4,000 animals, Al Ain Zoo is also an active player in efforts to prevent the extinction of many of these same species. The zoo works in partnership with entities around the world, such as Jersey Zoo, to share best practice in animal conservation, develop human capital through training programmes, and toenhanceanimal husbandry capabilities.
Author and naturalist Gerald Durrell established the Jersey Zoo in 1959, pioneering the concept that zoos have an essential role to play in the conservation of wildlife. His vision was of a safe haven for the world’s most threatened animals, where they and the efforts required to save them would engage the public. It would also serve as a centre for training conservation specialists from around the globe inendangered species recovery.
Al Ain Zoo is a member of the World Association for Zoo and Aquaria (WAZA) and is actively involved in several internationally coordinated conservation projects, working with other like-minded organisations such as Jersey Zoo, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the Species Survival Commission, San Diego Zoo, the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya and the Sahara Conservation Fund.
The zoo is open daily from 9am to 8pm.
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