Dubai Zoo - Planning to go 1st time | ExpatWoman.com
 

Dubai Zoo - Planning to go 1st time

573
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 14:40

How is it? Is it worth it?

Want to cross it off my list of things I've done here :).

Plus my friend and her daughter are here on holiday, so planning on taking them.

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 April 2011 - 13:41
But the land that the zoo is on must be worth a fortune. only if someone's willing to buy it... and develop it. Plus the relocation costs... they'd have to invest and build the new zoo before selling the old site. Basically, it's only going to happen when development picks up again and well, there are plenty of easier sites to develop (no demolition, etc...) so it'll be quite far down the list.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 April 2011 - 12:15
...Well, to be brutally honest, if whoever's in charge had an ounce of humanity, he'd be putting some of the most distressed animals down and focussing on providing better conditions for fewer specimens. True. :( It's an awful, awful situation.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 April 2011 - 12:07
But the land that the zoo is on must be worth a fortune.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 April 2011 - 11:02
I have never understood what is the problem in relocating zoo. Dubai Marina was built in few years of time, new shopping malls are rising everywhere and Dubai can't relocate one zoo? It shouldn't be too difficult to build a new zoo somewhere in the city. Return on investment... that's the problem. Designing and building a zoo well takes a lot of investment and won't get much return at all. This is also why the plans for relocation were always put on hold because during boom time, they suddenly realised that the potential location would be better used (ie more profitable) as high density residential. I would even go so far as to venture that even Al Ain runs on very low margins - even if they get a few thousand visitors a day, there's a lot of maintenance, food costs, vet costs and other overheads to pay for daily too.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 22:32
I have never understood what is the problem in relocating zoo. Dubai Marina was built in few years of time, new shopping malls are rising everywhere and Dubai can't relocate one zoo? It shouldn't be too difficult to build a new zoo somewhere in the city.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 19:20
Have you read the comments below the articles? Sorry but these people need their heads read.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:47
I'm really glad this post is here. I was thinking about visiting the zoo and now I definitely won't. It sounds appauling. I can't tolerate cruelty to animals :(
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:38
Very true HKA, I was thinking that myself. Better to put the most distressed ones to sleep, rather than let them live a terrible life.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:36
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell. Really? That's terrible. I do wonder why no one does anything. There have been several attempts to do something, including a very public protest by PETA. The state of Dubai Zoo is an international scandal. For years the authorities fobbed off all complaints by promising a new facility by 2007 in Dubailand..............go figure. Please do not visit the h@llhole. As I said, you really can't blame the poor guy that runs it, he does his best with the little money he gets. I have no idea why the government don't do something - such a tragedy. Well, to be brutally honest, if whoever's in charge had an ounce of humanity, he'd be putting some of the most distressed animals down and focussing on providing better conditions for fewer specimens.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:27
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell. Really? That's terrible. I do wonder why no one does anything. There have been several attempts to do something, including a very public protest by PETA. The state of Dubai Zoo is an international scandal. For years the authorities fobbed off all complaints by promising a new facility by 2007 in Dubailand..............go figure. Please do not visit the h@llhole. I said, you really can't blame the poor guy that runs it, he does his best with the little money he gets. I have no idea why the government don't do something - such a tragedy. I don't blame him.............
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:26
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell. Really? That's terrible. I do wonder why no one does anything. There have been several attempts to do something, including a very public protest by PETA. The state of Dubai Zoo is an international scandal. For years the authorities fobbed off all complaints by promising a new facility by 2007 in Dubailand..............go figure. Please do not visit the h@llhole. As I said, you really can't blame the poor guy that runs it, he does his best with the little money he gets. I have no idea why the government don't do something - such a tragedy.
1340
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:24
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell. Really? That's terrible. I do wonder why no one does anything. There have been several attempts to do something, including a very public protest by PETA. The state of Dubai Zoo is an international scandal. For years the authorities fobbed off all complaints by promising a new facility by 2007 in Dubailand..............go figure. Please do not visit the h@llhole.
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 18:12
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell. The brown bear int eh Abu Dhabi Children's park was just pacing round and round in very small circles too - always the same way, so much so that he's worn a path for himself. His enclosure was about the same size as my living room here and he just had a big rock in the middle (which he was pacing around). One of the ostriches also wasn't too happy and would bang his head repeatedly against the railings, following the spectators around.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 17:47
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell. Really? That's terrible. I do wonder why no one does anything.
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 17:44
Im no expert but DD mentioned the lions were acting mental, pacing up and down, there was no water in the enclosure either. So very sad. Did I read a while ago they have cut the food allowance to the animals as they havent enough money. So the poor creatures are going hungry aswell.
3804
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 17:42
You know they've been promising a new location for Dubai Zoo for years now and I wish they would just get on with it. The conditions the animals are kept in are pretty appalling and you can tell they're stressed by their behaviour. I can't blame the guy that runs it, as he does the best he can with what little funding he gets, plus most of the animals he's rescued or they've been dumped on him. But really the government needs to do something - it's been an embarrassment and a blot on Dubai's reputation for years.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 17:38
Havent been to Dubai Zoo but DD has, she was appaulled. I wonder If there are any worldwide charities that would help and assist it getting the animals better treatment. apparently it's *just* a space issue - they're in a quite central location and can't expand, which leave the only humane solution of reducing the number of animals on show... but hey...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 17:38
Havent been to Dubai Zoo but DD has, she was appaulled. I wonder If there are any worldwide charities that would help and assist it getting the animals better treatment. I have been here for 7 years and for all that time people have tried and tried to help Dubai Zoo. I am not sticking up for the place, but it was started off for a private collection of a few animals, he died and bequeathed it to Dubai (sure he would be turning in his grave now). Anyway it then became a dumping ground for people who became bored/realised that the cute tiger cub grows up into a not so friendly wild animal. There was talk of it moving to Mushrif park then to Dubailand but it never happened. Very sad place for animals to be. :-((
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 17:30
Havent been to Dubai Zoo but DD has, she was appaulled. I wonder If there are any worldwide charities that would help and assist it getting the animals better treatment.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:41
Oh no! :( Thanks for the advice. Do I need to worry about window wipers being pulled off by cheeky monkeys, or anything of that sort. Is it like a safari park, where you can see them from your car? Uh, no. It's a zoo-like zoo. LOL...that's not very nice g. ;) At least I didn't LOL at the monkeys like dikane!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:34
Rocking demented animals, some have sores on their tails and feet, ridiculously small inhumane cages, animals like bears and tiges suffering this heat without any proper airconditioned enclosures.....it is too cruel for words, I cant even drive by without my heart sinking. Poor,poor things-I was new here and went...I will never forget what i saw.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:18
Definitly dont do Dubai Zoo....its horrible! Al Ain Zoo on the other hand is great. Its quite easy to find, just head towards al Ain, then follow the brown signs for Al Ain Wildlife park. You can spend a good 4-5 hours there, but I would say get there early as most of the big cats take afternoon naps so you wont see them. Alternatively there is the Sharjah animal wildlife park which has a petting zoo which would be great for the children. Also Posh paws have a petting zoo I believe. The there is also the desert ranch that has lots of animals such as camels, horses, donkeys, goats etc. They have quite a few activities for kids and adults...www.desert-ranch.com Hope this helps.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:17
How is it? Is it worth it? Want to cross it off my list of things I've done here :). Plus my friend and her daughter are here on holiday, so planning on taking them. no dont go, go to al ain zoo instead.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:14
Also try the Children's zoo near Yas Island. Its brand new so not everything is open yet but most of it is Is that the "Childrens' Park/Zoo"? We went and it was kind of nice, but again, the enclosures were small and some of the animals were presenting very strange behaviour. Al Ain is by far the best and is the only one I actually feel comfortable about as the animals have great facilities and look really happy and well looked after.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:13
LOL monkeys. you dont drive through the al ain wildlife park, you walk. they have many shops for refreshments etc so dont worry, but be prepared, it's BIG. our first time there we got lost around the first roundabout, but phoned the park. the arabic gentlemen was extremely friendly & helpful and went out of his way to assist with directions. perhaps phone them beforehand, and then correlate what they said with the map you have? enjoy! Overpriced, cr*ppy refreshments though. I'd suggest taking a picnic...there are loads of lovely lawn areas where you can sit under the trees and relax. Have lots of ice in your esky and leave it in the car as you can go back and get it when you're ready to eat.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:11
Oh no! :( Thanks for the advice. Do I need to worry about window wipers being pulled off by cheeky monkeys, or anything of that sort. Is it like a safari park, where you can see them from your car? Uh, no. It's a zoo-like zoo. LOL...that's not very nice g. ;)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 16:10
You will all enjoy Al Ain zoo. They have quite a few different baby animals at the moment too. That in itself shows that the animals are happy and well cared for, it has a very successful breeding programme. Dubai on the otherhand deserves to be in the Guinness book of records for one of the worst zoos in the world. I really can't believe it's still open. It would be kinder to put the poor animals out of their misery. So sad.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 15:49
Also try the Children's zoo near Yas Island. Its brand new so not everything is open yet but most of it is
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 15:47
yes, it's that bad unfortunately
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 15:34
It's that bad?????? :(
 
 

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