8 cool little-known facts about animals that kids will love

The UAE offers a number of engaging encounters for the young ones; there are petting zoos and cat cafes and giant aquariums as well. But how much do we know about the creatures that inhabit these spaces? Here’s a look at some cool facts to keep an eye out for when you go a-visiting.

Did you know? Horses nap while standing up. It’s a sort of defence mechanism to ward off predators. Britannica.com explains that they are able to do this through a ‘stay apparatus’, which is a system of tendons and ligaments that enables a horse to lock the major joints in its legs. Check it out: There are plenty of horse-riding classes in the UAE, including at the Emirates Equestrian Centre.

If you think a snake is asleep and can’t see you, think again. The reptiles don’t have eyelids, instead they have a clear scale that covers each of their eyes as protection. Known as spectacles, these coverings allow the creature vision even when they are in place. Check it out: While we don’t recommend you get too close to snakes, you can see them in a safe environment at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which is home to 30 different species.

Ever wished for another stomach? Well, sheep have four stomachs, each of which have a distinctive function in the digesting of food. The first three pouches give their fibre-rich food a soupy consistency, which is finally digested in the fourth pouch.

You may think that an agile cat can fit through impossible spaces – but that’s only because it is doing some recon work first with her whiskers. These fine strands of hair may not feel much but they do detect changes in air flow, allowing for a feline guesstimate of whether the space is too narrow. Play with a cat and watch it in action at one of the cat cafes such as Ailuromania Cat Cafe around town.

You know how camels are called the ship of the desert? That’s because they can survive up to six months without food or water. How? It’s all thanks to the humps that store fatty tissue reserves that are used up in times of trouble. Want to see – or hug – a camel? Head to the Dubai Camel Farm for a fun visit.

Like many four-legged friends, deer take their first steps within half an hour of their birth. Want to pet a deer? Head to Hatta where the JA Hatta Fort Hotel offers encounters with a number of animals, from peacocks to deer.

Ducks can choose when to get wet. Their feathers have a waxy coating and are interlocked in a way that don’t allow moisture to get through – without effort. Head to the Al Qudra Lakes for an encounter of the poultry kind.

Monotone is really a good look for a penguin. When the flightless birds swim, their plumage serves as camouflage. The black on their backs is hard to see through a layer of water while the white confuses the creatures swimming below as it reflects light. Want to meet a penguin right here in UAE? You can thanks to Ski Dubai’s penguin encounter option.