Dubai: As many as 175 newborn animals of 30 species and five big cheetahs have become the new inhabitants of Dubai’s wildlife attraction, Dubai Safari Park.
The facility has welcomed new arrivals such as a vervet monkey, 22 blackbuck antelopes, three Arabian wolves, 12 corn snakes, two Nile crocodiles, five Egyptian fruit bats, six wood ducks, 24 African spurred tortoises and three African white lions among others, it said in a press release.
“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 facility.
He stated that 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.
He said it further strengthened the park’s commitment to conservation efforts for endangered species.
“We invite the UAE community to join us in welcoming the latest additions,” said Al Suwaidi.
The latest newborns have joined Snowy, the first white lion cub born in the park along with its twin brother Leo in August last year.
Last month, the park posted the first pic of Snowy as a newborn and a video showing how it was settling in six months later.
“Full of energy and very playful,” said the video of the little bundle of fur growing every day.
As first reported by Gulf News during the soft opening of the park on December 12, Leo could not survive. However, another white lion cub born in the park was later named Leo, said officials. A photo of the new Leo was also posted on the social media handles of the park on February 23.
Officials told Gulf News that the park also welcomed five big cheetahs last week, which were gifted by their locally-based owner.
“Say Hello to Zimbali, Zani, Zarah, Zuna and Zilda! You can meet our newly joined cheetahs in the African Village,” the park said while posting a photo of the cheetahs on social media on Friday.
