Get ready for snapping neighbours, as crocodiles are expected to soon make Dubai their new home.
Construction on the much-anticipated Crocodile Park is making headway, as Dubai Media Office have confirmed that the coming attraction is set to open by the end of 2016.
According to Dubai Municipality, the park will be located 10 kilometres from Dubai International Airport, close to Mushrif Park.
The 20,000-square-metre park is already 75 per cent complete, and although officials did not reveal the number of crocodiles that visitors can expect, Engineer Hussain Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, previously explained that the park will feature a large variety of the predatory reptiles, including the Nile crocodile.
Gulf News previously reported that Crocodile Park will contribute to the development of eco-tourism in the emirate, and promote the preservation of the species in accordance with Cites (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to protect endangered animals.
In addition to the entertainment aspect, the park will grant educational institutions – both schools and universities – andresearch centres with the opportunity to carry out excursions to the park.
Seminars are also expected to be offered to visitors as part of the municipality’s efforts to spread environmental awareness and to educate the public about natural sciences.
The Nile Crocodile: At a glance
Type: Reptile
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 45 years
Size: 5 metres
Weight: 225 kilograms
Group name: Bask (on land) or float (in water)
Did you know?
Mummified crocodiles and crocodile eggs have been discovered in Egyptian tombs.
Relative Size: relative to a two-metre tall man
By Mariam Al-Serkal
