Al Ain: Al Ain Zoo is celebrating the birth of two newborns, a hippopotamus and a giraffe calf, and expects them to be a special attraction for visitors during the Eid holidays.
The new-borns are on exhibit after being closely monitored under the care of the zoo’s veterinarian team, a spokesperson of the zoo said on Wednesday.
The young female hippopotamus will be available for public viewing at the core zoo exhibit, while the female giraffe calf has joined the other Nubian giraffes in the mixed African exhibit. One of nine sub-species, the Nubian giraffe is native to the wooded grasslands and savannahs of Africa, from eastern Sudan to northeast Congo.
Each animal has a unique pattern of large four brown spots, with pale underbellies and legs. Their population in southern Africa is expanding, while elsewhere in Africa, such as the Niger, the species is in danger of extinction, the spokesperson said.
The hippopotamus, which is naturally found only in sub-Saharan Africa and within a restricted distribution area, is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of threatened species due to the significant decline in its population in the past three decades.
Mimicking habitat
“The exhibit for the hippopotamus at Al Ain Zoo has been designed in a way that offers a clear view of the animals and water pool to the public, mimicking their natural environment,” Muna Al Daheri, acting chief conservation and education officer at the zoo, said.
She said: “We are delighted to welcome the new-born hippopotamus and giraffe to the zoo, and to introduce them to our visitors for the very first time. They are young, curious and enjoying the weather, and it is a great time for visitors to come and meet them as they settle in their new homes.”
Al Ain Zoo is a member of the World Association for Zoo and Aquaria (WAZA) and is actively involved in several internationally coordinated conservation projects, working with other like-minded organisations.
