Al Ain: UAE University (UAEU) and Al Ain Zoo yesterday (Tuesday) announced the launch of a short zoo-based wildlife conservation course.
The course will be offered, through the zoo’s scholarship, to interested science masters students. Students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry can also participate in the course, said an official of UAEU.
The short course, developed by Al Ain Zoo’s Conservation Department, comprises four sessions designed to educate students on the conservation of endangered species of animals and plants outside their natural habitats.
The students, said the UAEU official, will be introduced to a number of the zoo’s endangered species due to over-hunting, habitat loss and persecution and will be given an overview of the challenges faced when reintroducing such species into their natural habitats. They will also be given an overview of animal management and veterinary programmes and how to sow seeds of native plants.
The scholarship will fund the tuition fees for the students and provide assistance with project research costs. In return, the students will carry out a project that contributes to the zoo’s conservation objectives. The students will be selected following a rigorous application process, said the official.
Muna Al Daheri, Chief Conservation and Education Officer at Al Ain Zoo, said: “The initiative affirms and recognises the importance that conservation plays in the UAE’s future, as it prepares tomorrow’s generation to build on everything we have achieved thus far.” The zoo continuously seeks to promote the study of science and conservation among talented students, she said.
Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Vice-Chancellor of UAEU, said that the partnership showed commitment to environmental sustainability. Both the institutions entered into a collaboration last year for the development of Shaikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre. The centre is Al Ain Zoo’s landmark project that celebrates the conservation heritage of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The centre will help chart a sustainable future for desert living.
