Dubai Safari welcomes 175 newborn animals

The newborns represent 30 species

December 12, 2017.   Dubai Safari, Al Awir Road.  Media tour of the Dubai Safari.  A white lion is viewed by zoo visitors.
 Victor Besa for The National
National
Reporter:  Nick Webster
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Dubai Safari has welcomed 175 newborn animals since its soft opening in December last year.

The new arrivals - representing 30 species - include three African white lions, a vervet monkey, 22 blackbuck antelopes, three Arabian wolves, 12 corn snakes, two Nile crocodiles, five Egyptian fruit bats, six wood ducks and 24 African spurred tortoises, among others, reported state news agency Wam.

The 119-hectare park is already home to more than 2,500 animals from all over the world with plans to host up to 5,000 animals within three years.

With a keen eye on education and conservation, the animals were carefully selected, ahead of its opening, from reputable breeding programmes elsewhere to help Dubai Safari become a market leader in conservation.

"With the addition of the 175 newborns, we are pleased to see the Dubai Safari family growing in terms of both the number and diversity of the species," said Khalid Al Suwaidi, director of Leisure Facilities at Dubai Municipality - which manages the park.

"The list of the new arrivals highlights the sheer variety visitors can look forward to at Dubai Safari, including rare animals such as the African white lions, which further strengthens our commitment to conservation efforts for endangered species."

The park, on Al Awir Road on the outskirts of Dubai, attracted 14,000 visitors in the first two days of its soft opening in December. Its popularity prompted the park to introduce entry fees several days earlier than anticipated.

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