Baby otters, owlet are Dubai Underwater Zoo’s newborns
dubai — Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo (DAUZ) family is getting bigger as it recently welcomed its newborns. Two of the most popular additions are Habiba the owlet and two otters who are yet to be named.
“The otters born on April 4 still haven’t opened their eyes. They are likely to open them after 40 days. After 50 to 60 days, they will go for their first swim,” Norzila Ishak, exhibit curator at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, told Khaleej Times during an exclusive tour. The two otters tightly hugged each other and slept in a basket as she spoke.
“Till now, they don’t have any names. However, visitors can suggest names on the Underwater Zoo’s social media pages. The lucky one not only gets to name the otters but also wins a ticket to visit and see how the babies are doing.”
At the ‘Night Creatures’ zone, owlet Habiba was still shy to venture out of her nest as many owls speedily flapped their wings and marched towards the dead rats being shown to them. Her mother stood guard outside the nest as the photographer tried to take photos of the newcomer. She was born on February 22.
“She took her first flight only last week and she is still attached to her parents. After about three to four weeks, she will be independent,” Ishak said.
“If new parents abandon their baby, that’s when we intervene. But as much as possible, we want them to grow in their natural environment,” she added.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo launched its conservation programme in 2015 with the assisted breeding programme for one of its star inhabitants, the endangered Sand Tiger Shark.
“When the conservation programme started, we were focused on the Sand Tiger Shark, which is considered a vulnerable species. We got an expert from Australia, who managed to produce it by artificial insemination, making it a global historic first.”
Later they launched an aquanursery — a special place for the aquarium’s youngest residents to spend their initial months. We could see several young bamboo sharks, blue-spotted rays and jelly fish making a splash surrounded by many other newcomers.
The nursery not only lets the aquarium experts take care of the newborns, but it also allows visitors to learn about the lifecycles and reproductive processes for a variety of species.
When the conservation programme started, we were focused on the Sand Tiger Shark, which is considered a vulnerable species.”
Norzila Ishak, exhibit curator at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo