Round-about Al Ain

In the first week of arriving here we decided to pay Al-Ain zoo a visit. We headed off in the late afternoon to avoid the heat. To my amazement the entrance fee for the four of us was a mere 25 dirhams-I couldn’t believe it. That’s about £3.50 to you folks back in ole blighty. I don’t think you can buy a sandwich for that amount in a zoo these days…

As soon as we entered, I noticed how ‘not’ smelly, and clean it was, and how beautifully constructed. There were sign posts everywhere, and we chose a route and began our mini on foot safari. There were two little trains choo-chooing their ways around with passengers on board – actually they weren’t exactly trains but looked like them.

I remember feeling very quiet for the first hour. I loved the zoo, but I was melting in the heat. I just felt so tired because of it. It had still been a few days in al-Ain, and I just felt so lethargic.
We passed many things, serval cats, wolves, and giraffes. A long time ago in almost another lifetime as a teenager I was blessed enough to be able to stare straight into the eyes of some giraffes from some kind of strange ‘Giraffe tower’, and I cannot put into words how breath-takingly beautiful they are. Huge, huge dark eyes, beautiful lashes, and a look of sheer gentility. They are graceful creatures indeed. However they slobber a great deal, in a way which isn’t so graceful, but the eyes compensate for it.

I remember an enclosure which housed a magnificent lion, and two lionesses. The male was quite amazing. He was walking around his enclosure with his head up high and roaring. The sound was heart stopping. It made me feel fear deep inside as I watched on. This was a creature who commanded respect. Even from outside the wall I couldn’t help but feel vulnerable. It made think of the story of the bandit who was caught and made to fight a lion in return for his freedom- I know what you’re thinking…huh???

What really struck me was how small I found the enclosure. It pained me to see these awesome creatures in it. I could imagine the lion taking a few bounds before coming to the end of the enclosure. It horrified me. It wasn’t much smaller than many of the lion enclosures I have seen back home either, so it wasn’t unique to Al-Ain. My mind travelled back to a safari journey in East Africa, travelling for miles and miles over the open plains of one of the most beautiful places on this earth. I recalled encountering these creatures in their natural habitat, and I know now that they belong only there. Man has a lot to answer for.

My husband said maybe they have been rescued, and are being kept from extinction.
In that case I know there are institutions which cater for wildlife conservation, where animals are bought in, looked after, and re-trained to live independently in the wild-which only works alongside strict anti-poaching sanctions. Trapping and suffocating them in zoos isn’t the answer in preventing extinction.

As entertaining as the zoo was, I left the animals with a heavy heart, wishing for them the freedom that is their natural right. As humans we have a serious responsibility for these creatures, yet we poach, kill and capture for our own selfish gains. The damage was done a long time ago, and now we’re trying to salvage the few shreds we can.

That’s my rant for the day, I could go on and on, because the more I think about it, the more I feel grief, and injustice for these animals whose voices are not heard. Also, not to be unjust other enlosures seemed really spacious, especially for the Giraffes…something at least.

Back to base. We had a lovely meal and a rest, then the call for Maghrib (evening) prayer went. Not being accustomed to Mosques being everywhere I was amazed to fine the most beautiful little mosque, splat bang in the middle of this zoo. By this time the sun had set, it had cooled down just a little, yet people were milling about everywhere, and the atmosphere to me was spine tingling, it was magical.

We prayed and wondered around for a little while longer before wearily going home.

To end, talking of animals, I would like to introduce my new baby, Mao.

Looking back I have no idea why we ended up at the mall at ten pm a few nights ago (its way past the kids bedtime and I hate the mall at that time on a Friday) and I had no idea there was a pet store there, but the second I set my eyes on this sad neglected little kitten in a glass box, something inside me told me we needed to rescue her. I have never had a pet before (apart form my own 2 sons) and ever since we bought this frightened little kitten home, she has been a delight. She is affectionate beyond words, and we have all fallen in love with her. She seems to have picked up so much since coming home Alhumdulillah.

Masha’Allah she is already a piece of my heart, and I only pray we do her justice by keeping her happy and content here.
This could lead me to another huge rant about the amount of poor thin stray cats here in the UAE – everywhere. What the bleepers is going on? Either I am mad or everyone else is. My heart breaks seeing them meowing, crying for food. Folk here need to learn many a thing about animal welfare.