Al Ain Zoo has announced that the ages of some of the oldest animals in its care have exceeded their normal life expectancy in the wild, including a 47-year-old lappet-faced vulture, a chimpanzee aged about 36 years old and a 34-year-old mugger crocodile. The longevity of these species has exceeded their life expectancy in their natural habitat by tens of years as they have been protected from overhunting and the inevitable urban sprawl they would face.
The Zoo has been able to nurture the rich variety of animals to which it is home, now numbering 4,000, by implementing state-of-the-art, fully tested and highly successful programmes and strategies that adopt modern technologies in the processes of registration, monitoring, genetic studies, veterinary care and behavioural rehabilitation of abused animals.
It also used ZIMS zoo aquarium animal management software, which is considered one of the best global reliable sources of information on animals and their environments for zoos, aquaria and relevant organisations to serve animal management and accomplish conservation goals.
In addition, the Zoo utilises advanced genetic conserving programmes to maintain genetic integrity and ensure the preservation and sustainability of species, with the possibility of releasing some healthy offspring into the wild to help repopulation.
