Al Ain Zoo celebrates Asian species

Abu Dhabi/Al Ain (WAM): Al Ain Zoo has kicked off an Asian themed month filled with a wide array of interactive and exciting activities this October to celebrate species from Asia, with a special focus on Bengal Tigers, Axis Deer, Nilgai and Blackbucks. Visitors can enjoy a range of entertaining activities including bird and parrot shows, as well as performances that reflect Asian culture and traditions. A workshop is also planned for children, where they will have the opportunity to craft and design their own umbrellas, fans, and lanterns. Muna Al Dhaheri, Chief of Conservation and Education at Al Ain Zoo, said, "Education has always been a core element at Al Ain Zoo. We strongly believe that these special focused themed months and the wide range of interactive and educational activities, fulfil our commitment towards inspiring the young generation and encouraging them to learn more about wildlife." Al Ain Zoo’s collection of desert antelopes and gazelles are among the largest in the world and most diverse; the zoo is involved in areas such as captive management, conservation research, captive breeding, propagation, and the reintroduction of endangered species in to the wild whenever it is possible. The Bengal Tiger, an animal listed as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, Red List, can be found at the zoo, and populates a range of different areas including tropical moist evergreen forests, mangroves, and alluvial grasslands, and has a global population estimated between 3,062 and 3,948. The blackbuck, an ungulate species of antelope, are classified as ''near threatened' under the IUCN Red List. They have greatly decreased because of excessive hunting and loss of habitat due to agricultural development. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395270842265.html