A World class zoo
A zoo is a tremendous place for learning and entertainment. Many opine that zoos are not required and they disturb the growth of an animal, who is caged and kept in a restricted environment. But there is another line of thought that says that a zoo helps preserve animal life for posterity otherwise as per Darwin's theory of natural selection many species would become extinct. An example is a white tiger that would have become extinct in case it was not nurtured in the various zoo all over the world.
Having accepted the argument for a zoo the one
at Al Ain in Abu Dhabi is a gigantic zoo with an array of exotic animals. Entrance to the zoo costs AED 100 ( $25), but one does not mind paying it as it is such an exotic place. Located about 150 km from the capital it is connected by one of the finest auto roads and one can cruise safely to it in your car. For a tourist, there is the luxury bus or taxi. The drive takes about 2 hours.Visiting
The zoo is a day where you must keep a full day aside. It has vast walkways and for the infirm or the tourist in a hurry, there is the electric car. The zoo is located in what is known as the green belt in Abu Dhabi. Can't imagine that just 2 decades back all this was the great Arabian desert with sand dunes all around.
The zoo has animals from all over the world. You have mammals like the Tiger, Lion, and Rhinoceros from Africa. Though the great Indian Asiatic lion is missing, there is the Indian white tiger.The African elephants dwarf and large crocodiles can be seen. The zoo has the exotic
white tiger and seeing it prancing around is great entertainment. The zoo keeps the animals in their natural habitat and vast enclosures keep the animals as close to their natural habitat as possible. Though I dare say in the summer heat the animals would have trying time.Birds, reptiles and the equine animals like Zebra and giraffe stroll around and one realizes what a wonder the world is. The staff is almost 60% from India and they do a good job feeding and looking after the animals. The zoo has many eateries and the last time I was there only beef burgers were on the menu, so I gulped one and relished the taste.
Last word
This is a world class zoo and I haven't seen any such zoo in India. The Delhi zoo is close, but somehow the animals there look so sad. The less said about the Mumbai zoo and Alipur zoo in Calcutta the better. My only regret was that the zoo did not have the one horn great Indian rhinoceros and the Indian lion. Maybe this lacuna will be filled soon.All said and done the Al Ain zoo is a day well spent and if you leg it all around, you will have done some wonderful exercise and take back memories of some exotic animals that enliven our world so much. This zoo is an exponent of art and nature and that is a great amalgamation.
