UAE: Region’s first fox flies to Dubai’s rainforest – News

Guests of Green Planet, which has more than 3,000 plant species on four levels of the rainforest, have been witnessing the foxes since September 16

Dubai’s own rainforest “Green Planet” is now home to foxes – one of the world’s largest “giant bat” species capable of sustained flight. From 16 September 2022, guests will witness the Middle East’s first flying foxes in the Bioarium, which features more than 3,000 species of plants and animals across four indoor rainforest layers.

Living with lemurs, sloths and parrots, the lemurs, with their tawny fur that glisten in the sun, are so sociable that guests can witness them flying freely in the enclosed bio-dome. Visitors will be able to interact with and take photos with the animals and learn more about these super social animals known as the Malaysian flying fox.

Giant bats, which use their keen sense of smell to find food and use their excellent eyesight to navigate, play an important role in keeping native forests healthy by dispersing seeds and pollinating flowering plants. Animals have a wingspan of 1.8m or more; flying foxes that have reached the green planet have a wingspan of up to 1 meter and a weight of 1 kg.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently assessed its species as endangered. They are 27-38 cm long and live an average of 15 years in the wild. Under human care, however, they can live up to 30 years; Greener Planet conservation efforts will be part of an important global effort to protect this species.

These aerial wonders will now be part of a one-day Green Planet Dubai experience, in addition to six areas of the rainforest featuring sloths, piranhas, tropical birds and reptiles.