Emirates Park Zoo & Resort in Abu Dhabi is highlighting animal welfare, autism-friendly visits and wildlife education ahead of World Kindness Day on November 13.
Animal welfare starts before visitors arrive
Animal care at Emirates Park Zoo & Resort in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi, begins well before the first visitors enter the attraction.
The zoo’s keepers carry out daily health checks, prepare diets tailored to individual species and inspect habitats to ensure animals are comfortable and settled.
These routines cover around 220 species, with care adapted to each animal’s age, behaviour and individual needs.
The zoo is highlighting these efforts ahead of World Kindness Day on November 13, placing the focus on animal welfare, responsible interaction with wildlife and education.
Zoo introduces enrichment activities for animals
Beyond daily feeding and health checks, the zoo uses enrichment activities to encourage animals to display natural behaviours.
These include food puzzles, new scents and different textures designed to stimulate activities such as foraging, climbing and playing.
The veterinary team also provides preventive care and regular health checks.
The zoo is preparing to introduce AI-powered tools to monitor animal behaviour and welfare more closely. However, it has not announced when these tools will be introduced.
Autism-friendly experiences for UAE families
The zoo’s approach to kindness also extends to visitors.
As a Certified Autism Center™, Emirates Park Zoo & Resort trains its staff to provide calm, guided and sensory-aware experiences.
The aim is to make visits more comfortable and accessible for all guests, including People of Determination.
Education is another part of its community engagement. More than 300 schools visit the zoo each year, giving students opportunities to learn about animals and the importance of caring for living things.
Zoo shares advice on responsible wildlife interaction
Ahead of World Kindness Day, the zoo is encouraging families to adopt simple habits that support animal welfare.
These include treating pets and wildlife gently, avoiding feeding wild animals human food and learning more about the animals that share the UAE’s natural environment.
Dr Walid Shaaban, CEO of Emirates Park Zoo & Resort, said: “Kindness is not a single day for our team but the way we work every day; every animal in our care depends on it, and we hope every visitor leaves inspired to show the same care to animals at home and in the wild.”
