Dubai Crocodile Park opening postponed

Dubai Municipality has postponed the opening of the Crocodile Park project until the end of next year.
Eng. Juma Al Fuqae, Director of Property Management Department and Vice Chairman of the Investment Committee at Dubai Municipality said 43 per cent of its work is finished.
The park has been postponed to facilitate the investment company to complete all preparations in order to construct the park in the most modern style as the park considered to be the first of its kind in the Middle East and is being set up on the lines of theCrocodile Park in France.  
The park, which will facilitate hundreds of crocodiles to grow and reproduce naturally, will house many types of Nile crocodiles, the largest species that live in fresh water around the world.  
He stressed that the Dubai Crocodile Park will be a tourist destination frequented by tourists coming to the Emirate of Dubai and will be an environmental sanctuary that provides better movement conditions, nutrition, health follow-up of crocodiles to breed, and will contribute to the preservation of this species of animals in accordance with the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna).  
Fuqae added that the project also represents the application of the concept of integrated parks prevailing in many countries of the world. "Other than the entertainment aspect, it will provide a great opportunity for all educational institutions, whether schools or universities or research centers, to conduct research and scientific programs and also organize specialized seminars that will contribute to the increased interest in natural science, biology and environment. Visitors will be able to make an entertaining tour of the park watchingthe crocodiles in a natural setting as hundreds of crocodiles will be spread out in the water basins," he said.  

Fuqae said the project is situated 10 kilometers away from the international airport with easy access from several areas, including Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road, Emirates Road, Tripoli Street and Khawaneej Road.
"It also integrates with the neighboring residential areas like Al Muhaisina, Mizhar 1 and 2, Mirdiff, Al Warqa 1,2,3,4 and 5 as well as Dubai Safari project and the Birds and Pets Market," he said, adding that the Dubai Crocodile Park will be charging only a reasonable entry fee from visitors.
Talking on the environmental aspect of the project, Fuqae said the engineering and construction materials used in the project areenvironmentally friendly, depending on renewable energy and waste treatment, while maintaining the architectural characteristics of the area and adhering to the sustainable development criteria according to the vision of Dubai Municipality.  
He said the project will attract three categories o visitors such aschildren, families and the Arab and foreign tourists and is located adjacent to Mushrif Park spanning an area of 20,000 square meters.  
Fuqae also explained that the company that signed the contract with the Municipality to implement Dubai Crocodile Park as a tourist attraction has to its credit successful experience in constructing crocodile parks in France and Tunisia with a high level of tourist flow as well as in the field of design, implementation and management of crocodile parks.
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