Rare Vultures

Rare Vultures on View at Al Ain Wildlife Park

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AL AIN - For the first time since the zoo was opened 40 years ago, visitors will now be able to see rare vultures at the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort. The vultures are the wildlife park’s latest additions to its already 4,300-strong animal family and are now on display in the ‘birds of prey’ aviary. The aviary, which also houses seven Steppe eagles and two Imperial eagles, will now be home to a White-headed vulture and two Lappet-faced vultures (pictured). Both vultures are endemic to Africa and are considered vulnerable to extinction. The White-headed vulture is a medium-sized, chunky vulture. The bird’s most distinguishing feature is a crest of white, as well as a pinkish beak. The White-headed vulture is predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa. The Lappet-faced vulture is one of the largest and most powerful of all of the African vultures, possessing one of the strongest beaks. Like many vultures, it has a bald head; however, the pink coloration is a distinctive feature. As well as Africa, the Lappet-faced vulture can also be found in some Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Yemen. Located near the reptile house, the ‘birds of prey’ aviary is currently one of the most popular exhibits at the park. AWPR has plans to expand on the species represented in the bird show, and is also looking at introducing demonstrations in the vulture aviary in the near future. The Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort animal collection is evolving to best represent the desert species of the world. Recently, a number of other desert dwelling species were revealed to the public including the White-bellied bustard, Egyptian vulture, Grant’s hedgehog and Savannah monitor lizard. The Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort stands on more than 900 hectares of land and is currently home to 4,300 animals, 30 per cent of which are considered to be endangered. Following the principles established in the Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Framework Plan, it will become a model for cultural and ecological sustainability, conservation and education. The natural wildlife of the park and educational centres, in addition to the themed desert safaris, and a world leading arid land botanic gardens and plant collection, will provide both a centre of learning excellence and a leisure destination. As part of the transformation into a wildlife resort, significant development is currently being undertaken to set the standards globally for conservation efforts. Construction of the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort will be completed in three phases. Phase one of the project, including the African Safari and the Shaikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, will be finished by 2011. Phase two will be complete in 2012, and the completion date for phase three is 2013. news@khaleejtimes.com

Sand Cat

Sand cats are a rear find in the desert, but I thought this cat was interesting and since 2007, the first four kittens born in captivity are being raised at the Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates as an effort to preserve the local fauna. The sand cat are small desert dwelling cats native to North Africa and the Middle East. I hope to see them when we go to Al Ain Zoo.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sand Cat[1]
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Felis
Species:	F. margarita
Binomial name
Felis margarita Loche, 1858

Bristol Zoo, England

The Sand cat (Felis margarita), also referred to as the "sand dune cat", is a small wild cat distributed over African and Asian deserts. The name "desert cat" is reserved for Felis silvestris lybica, the African wildcat, but it could be appropriate for this species. It lives in those arid areas that are too hot and dry even for the desert cat: the Sahara, the Arabian Desert, and the deserts of Iran and Pakistan. It lives for about 13 years in captivity.

Contents [hide] 1 Physical characteristics 2 Habitat and behavior 3 Conservation 4 Subspecies 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Physical characteristics

The Sand cat's length averages almost 50 cm (20 in), plus a 30 cm (12 in) tail. The average weight of a sand cat is 2.7 kg (6 lbs). Their heads are conspicuously broad, and their ears are large, pointed, and widely spaced to the point they can be flattened horizontally or even pointing down (this aids in hunting). The colour of the fur is a pale sandy yellow, with pallid bars, which are sometimes hardly visible. Generally the bars are more visible in the African subspecies. The mucosa of their eyelids is a striking black. Their paws are covered with long hairs that allow it to tolerate and easily maneuver the hot sand of its environment. The sand cat can survive in temperatures ranging from −5 °C (23 °F) to 52 °C (126 °F).

[edit] Habitat and behavior

Sand cats live solitarily (until mating season; see below), digging burrows to escape the desert heat, and come out after dusk to hunt rodents, lizards, birds and insects, although their diet may consist mostly of rodents. They "skulk" close to the ground and will use any available cover to protect themselves. Using their large ears they listen for prey, digging rapidly when they hear it underground. Since the sand cat obtains all the water it needs from eating its prey, it mostly stays far away from watering points where other predators may harm it. Sand cats congregate only for mating so numbering them is a difficult task. It seems however that their numbers have been declining in the Arabian desert following a rarefaction of their prey.

Threats to the Sand cat include humans, wolves, snakes, and raptors.^[3] Although solitary animals, sand cats do not have their own territories like tigers or bobcats, and may even "take turns" over burrows with others.

Conservation

Sand Cat

Hunting this cat is prohibited in Algeria, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan and Tunisia. No legal protection is offered by the following countries: Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.^[4]

Since 2007, the first four kittens born in captivity are being raised at the Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates as an effort to preserve the local fauna.

[edit] Subspecies

There are six subspecies of the Sand cat:

• Felis margarita margarita, North Africa, from Algeria to Arabia
• Felis margarita airensis, Niger
• Felis margarita harrisoni, Arabian Peninsula
• Felis margarita meinertzhageni, Sahara
• Felis margarita thinobia, Caspian Sea area (Iran, Turkmenistan)
• Felis margarita scheffeli, Pakistan

F. m. thinobia is sometimes regarded as a separate species; F. m. scheffeli is listed by CITES as endangered, although IUCN only lists it as near threatened as of 2001.

First Pig Tails

Sydney finally has hair long anuff for her first pig tails. She has a big smile. I hope everyone enjoys this photo. We even got the Coca Cola Light not Diet Coke in the photo, ha ha.

First Pony Tails

Sydney finally has hair long anuff for her first pony tails. She has a cheese ball smile. I hope everyone enjoys this photo. We even got the Coca Cola Light not Diet Coke in the photo, ha ha.

Merry Christmas

Our first Christmas in Abu Dhabi brought some much needed rain and Santa left several gifts for Sydney, she must have been a good girl this year. Sydney was really into opening presents this year and it was so cute her thinking that it was someones birthday during Christmas.

The story behind that is we have been having several birthdays in our family and she can say Happy Birthday and well I think she thought Christmas was someone's birthday so I told her it was Jesus's birthday, which you should never lose sight of that during Christmas anyway. I can't wait to look back and think how cute that was. Since we got it all on video tape. We spent the day with all three of us and the dogs just relaxing and opening gifts. The day was filled with fun moments that hopefully we will never forget. We had ham for our Christmas dinner and even the dogs had a special meal for Christmas Lucy had a little ham and Teddy had a green bean with there dog food. The dogs got a toy too which they seemed to love. Everyone had a wonderful day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

Ski Dubai

Dubai has it own skiing area in the Mall of the Emirates and you can ski year round. Who would have thought you could ski in the middle east. We plan to check it out soon. I can't wait to see what Sydney thinks of snow for the first time. We have not skied in years so I am hoping it is like riding a bike you never really forget. We sure missed seeing the snow back home, but this is the next best thing to real snow and you don't have to drive in it which is even better.


It’s s-now or never

Santa noticed A big difference on his return to Ski Dubai this week. It was snowing during the day! That’s right, real snow falling– another world first at the world famous indoor ski resort.

The team at Ski Dubai who have been able to make 30 tons of fresh dry powder snow fall each night for the last four years when the centre is closed, have now developed the technology to make real snow fall during the daytime when the snow park is open.

After four years of design and development, the race was on to have the system up and running for the arrival of Santa and Mrs Claus.

Mike Mahoney, General Manager of Ski Dubai, says, “We are proud to announce another world first! Since Ski Dubai opened we have been able to provide many of our guests with the opportunity to touch snow for the first time. Now with the development of our Snow Flake technology, we can allow them to also see it falling which for many in this region will be a new experience”.

“The timing for this launch has been perfect for Santa’s visit and I’m sure the snowflakes will enhance the Free Photos with Santa available with every child entry ticket from now till Christmas Eve”.

The real snow flakes will fall in the snow park area for the enjoyment of families and other visitors.

The system uses nothing more than nature’s ingredients of water, air and a drop in temperature. See real snow falling at Ski Dubai from 2pm daily over the festive period.

Dubai has it own skiing area in the Mall of the Emirates and you can ski year round


It’s s-now or never

Santa noticed A big difference on his return to Ski Dubai this week. It was snowing during the day! That’s right, real snow falling– another world first at the world famous indoor ski resort.

The team at Ski Dubai who have been able to make 30 tons of fresh dry powder snow fall each night for the last four years when the centre is closed, have now developed the technology to make real snow fall during the daytime when the snow park is open.

After four years of design and development, the race was on to have the system up and running for the arrival of Santa and Mrs Claus.

Mike Mahoney, General Manager of Ski Dubai, says, “We are proud to announce another world first! Since Ski Dubai opened we have been able to provide many of our guests with the opportunity to touch snow for the first time. Now with the development of our Snow Flake technology, we can allow them to also see it falling which for many in this region will be a new experience”.

“The timing for this launch has been perfect for Santa’s visit and I’m sure the snowflakes will enhance the Free Photos with Santa available with every child entry ticket from now till Christmas Eve”.

The real snow flakes will fall in the snow park area for the enjoyment of families and other visitors.

The system uses nothing more than nature’s ingredients of water, air and a drop in temperature. See real snow falling at Ski Dubai from 2pm daily over the festive period.

Rain

For the past two days we have seen our first rain here in Abu Dhabi. Everyone said it would come and they were right. It is cold now 68 F most people would say that feels good, but here I think since we are used to 100 + it really seems down right cold to me. I have been waiting for it to be cold for awhile now, but I think it is to cold. I never thought I would say that here.

We are thankful for the rain God has given us this week.

Christmas decorations

Christmas is just around the corner and some of the stores are getting into the holiday spirit. I am surprised that they have a Christmas section from Christmas trees to ornaments and I even saw a Nativity set to buy and I was really surprised at that seeing how this is a Muslim country, but they really try to make everyone feel welcome. Paul seems to think they want to sell stuff, but that maybe, but they wouldn't have to decorate the malls and things. We took Sydney to see Santa at one of the hotels here and they had a 20 ft. Christmas tree there. I figured we better take Sydney when we could because I didn't know how many Santa's would be here. We haven't seen Santa at the malls yet and I am not sure we will. I am just glad they had one even if she was afraid to seat with him so we got a picture of Santa, Sydney and Mommy.

National Day

38th National Day Celebrations

On December 2 the UAE celebrated 38 years as a country, which is just like our 4th of July back home, but here they do everything bigger. The whole city seemed to come alive with all there UAE decorations from buildings to cars and yes they partied until the wee hours of the morning.

National Day Fireworks in Abu Dhabi

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On National Day night, Abu Dhabi will make its way to the record books when a spectacular display of fireworks lights up the city’s skyline.

A forty five minutes display of fireworks which anticipates one million viewers aims to become a major tourism event.

Lighting up the Abu Dhabi sky to a height of over 1,584 feet, the event aims to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the largest fireworks display in the world history in line with HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's vision to be the 1st in the world. The event features a wall of fireworks choreographed to selected music that can be heard all along the beach front.

The fireworks show will start at 8:30pm and last for 45 minutes from three barges at Emirates Palace Marina Bay and from five more alongside the West Corniche.

We went to see the fireworks and they truly lasted 45 minutes. I never seen so much parting in all my life they really get into it.