A procession of marching bands and exotic inhabitants of the UAE’s largest zoo marked the end of the season as Dubai Safari Park closed its gates until September.
The 3,200 birds and animals on show at the 119-hectare Al Warqa park will be moved to cooler enclosures and shaded areas for the summer.
Dubai Safari reopened in October after a two-year hiatus, during which extensive improvements were made to the site.
Successful on-site breeding programmes resulted in the birth of about 290 animals this year, including four lion cubs, zebra, hyenas, and giraffes.
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The park has five different zones – Africa, Asia, Arabian Desert Safari, Explorer and Adventure Village. A troop of elephants was a popular new addition with visitors in 2021.
Further expansion is planned for next season, including an adventure area with a zip line and bungee jump, a splash water zone for children and a party area.
Owing to coronavirus restrictions, the park has operated at 30 per cent capacity since its reopening. It welcomed more than 300,000 visitors throughout the season.
Ahmad Al Zarouni, director of Public Parks and Recreational Facilities at Dubai Municipality, said it was hoped that the park would reopen fully later this year.
“Hopefully we will open in September with more attractions in place,” he said.
