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"On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so because they recognised the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations.”
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The late Sheikh Zayed
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Throughout his entire life, the late Sheikh Zayed was passionately concerned with the wildlife and nature of his homeland. He was a true visionary who saw the undeniable value of conservation and preservation. So it was a natural step for him to establish the Al Ain Zoo in 1968, with the vision of creating a unique natural environment for animals to freely live and thrive.
In his unceasing efforts to preserve the nature and wildlife of the UAE, he banned animal hunting, especially of the Arabian oryx, which was becoming an endangered species. A conservation and breeding programme for the Arabian oryx was successfully introduced at the zoo in 1972. Ten years later, the Al Ain Zoo started breeding another endangered local species, the Houbara bustard.
Under the direction of the late Sheikh Zayed, many other rare species of oryx and gazelle, as well as the Arabian leopard, have enjoyed the protection and care they need to survive and regenerate.
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