Dubai's new zoo with Safari Park is expected to open by mid-2016. It covers an area of 119 hectares and is being built at a cost of Dh150 million. "The new zoo will be home to almost 1,000 animals from around the world, and out of those, there will be more than 350 species of rare and endangered animals" said Eng Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.

Construction on the new project to replace the old much smaller zoo started in 2012. The Safari Park's design and layout incorporate the best practices from safaris and zoos across the world after a team of specialists visited a number of the world's important zoos in Indonesia, Singapore, Austria, Germany etc.

Safari Park has been designed to be environmentally-friendly and will use solar energy. A hybrid operational system incorporates water recycling, waste disposal and other recycling facilities.The solar-powered park has been designed to absorb sunlight, which will then be converted into electricity during night time. The park will feature 100 different kinds of plants, each related to the area's theme, with over 2,500 trees.

The cages have been made to suit the local climate and each cage will be temperature-controlled. The cages have been designed to use simple, water-cooled greenhouse technology. On the advice of renowned zoologists and international specialists, Dubai Municipality has carefully chosen the types of animals to be housed at Dubai Safari Park.

The new zoo comprises of several themed areas, including Arabian, Asian and African villages. a botanical garden and a butterfly garden.

Source: Gulf News