Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 24 March, 2015 11:39 am |

- Free entry is offered to visitors from 7 pm to enjoy a wide-range of activities –

As part of its commitment to conserving the environment, Al Ain Zoo announces its participation in Earth Hour on Saturday 28th March 2015. Visitors are offered a free-entrance from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm to enjoy a wide on-site campaign full of activities and workshops.
Guests are invited to participate in a wide range of activities organized by Al Ain Zoo during the day including lantern making workshops. Additionally, visitors can experience true Emirati hospitality from ’Mills’ restaurant, and also express their commitment to environmental conservation on a pledges board.
From 7:00 – 8:30 pm, guests can enjoy a guided zoo night walk with flashlights, star-gazing using telescopes presented by College of Science at UAE University, and a classical musical performance at the African exhibit. Additional activities include participants lighting up their candles and placing them in the shape of ‘60+’ on the ground.
Commenting on the participation, Muna Al Dhaheri, the Chief of Conservation and Education at Al Ain Zoo said:
“Earth Hour, which is celebrated throughout the world, aims to protect the environment, reduce global warming and regularise electricity consumption by switching off lights. Al Ain Zoo is committed to raising awareness about climate change, and we have organised a number of activities that give people the opportunity to be part of a global movement in a fun and interactive setting to educate them about positive environmental practices and the importance of conserving energy.”
Al Ain Zoo will open its doors from 9am to 8:30pm on Saturday 28th March, and is located on the UAE-Oman border and is a short drive from Dubai and from the UAE's capital city, Abu Dhabi. With the majestic Jebel Hafeet and the rich expanse of Green Mubazzarah as its backdrop, Al Ain Zoo is one of the city's leading attractions.
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For more information on Al Ain Zoo please visit www.alainzoo.ae.
You can also follow Al Ain Zoo on www.facebook.com/AlAinZooUae or www.twitter.com/AlAinZooUAE

About Al Ain Zoo:
Al Ain Zoo was founded in 1968 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. Being concerned about the wildlife and nature of his homeland all his life, the late Sheikh Zayed established this unique zoo in the Middle East with the vision of creating natural habitats for animals to live freely. Since its founding, Al Ain Zoo has been a centre for endangered species conservation, most notably the successful breeding of desert antelopes and gazelles, such as the endangered Arabian Oryx. Today, Al Ain Zoo has become a family destination that provides entertainment and learning experiences in a natural outdoor environment. Visitors of all ages discover the zoo’s wildlife and enjoy a great day-out packed with fun and adventure, while learning about conservation and exploring a collection of around 4000 animals.
Al Ain Zoo is home to an internationally important conservation programme focusing on the wildlife of the world’s arid regions, and the zoo is involved in conservation research, captive breeding and propagation and the reintroduction of threatened species to their wild habitats. Our collection of desert antelopes is recognized as among the best in the world. Al Ain Zoo is a proud member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA). Strategic partnerships have been set up with leading zoos, conservation agencies and associations from across the world, including the World Conservation Union and Species Survival Commission, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, San Diego Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya and the Sahara Conservation Fund.
As part of the UAE’s commitment to wildlife conservation both within the UAE and internationally, Al Ain Zoo is further developing the area around the existing zoo into an entertainment and tourist attraction dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and conserving desert wildlife. Educational and discovery programmes, along with future development projects, will be available at this new destination called Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, which will provide an extraordinary opportunity for visitors to explore and learn about the desert world and experience a world-class tourist destination. Embedded within the UAE World Desert, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre will feature educational exhibits that celebrate the wildlife and traditions of the desert, celebrate the conservation heritage of the late Sheikh Zayed and help chart a sustainable future for desert living.