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Gulf News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Last days before Dubai Safari Park closure: What to look forward to before June 1
Dubai: Dubai Safari Park will close its gates on June 1 for seasonal upgrades, and this month, visitors still have a chance to enjoy one last wild adventure and take part in a host of special events and interactive experiences. The park, home to more than 3,000 animals from over 250 species, will return with new activations and enhanced guest experiences when Season Seven opens on October 14. 'This is the last chance to meet their animal friends before we close,' said Ahmad AlKhoori, Head of Specialised Parks and Recreational Facilities at Dubai Municipality. Onyx's birthday bash One of the biggest highlights before closure is expected to be the first birthday celebration of Onyx, the park's beloved baby rhino born last year. 'Yes, of course. We will be announcing it soon. I love him. He is my favourite,' AlKhoori said. Unmissable experiences Popular activities such as the Safari Adventure, animal encounters, feeding sessions, and the immersive Junior Ranger programme provide guests, especially younger visitors, with engaging, educational insights into wildlife and conservation. Guests can enjoy the park's air-conditioned shuttle train rides across six unique zones, as well as indoor exhibits and the air-conditioned safari experience, ensuring a comfortable visit even during warmer days. Some of the park's most iconic residents – from Dalia the giraffe to Digit the gorilla – continue to be a major draw, along with majestic tigers, lions, elephants, and other exotic species that reflect the diversity of animal life across the globe. 'You name it, we have it,' AlKhoori underlined. Supporting a cause In a new initiative, the park announced that a portion of all admission revenues will now directly support wildlife rescue, care, and research, further cementing its role as a serious player in global conservation efforts. 'Each visit to the park doesn't just mean entertainment – it's a way to contribute to wildlife conservation,' AlKhoori said. 'We aim to provide an educational experience where guests see animals in environments that mirror their natural habitats.'
Gulf News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Wild makeover: Dubai Safari Park to close on June 1, set for months of upgrades to experiences
Dubai: Dubai Safari Park – the city's popular wildlife and tourism attraction – is set to undergo months of upgrades to offer an even more enriching experience for visitors. 'We will be ending the sixth season on June 1. One of the reasons is that we will upgrade and update our activations and guest experiences for Season Seven, which will start on October 14,' Ahmad AlKhoori, Head of Specialised Parks and Recreational Facilities at Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). While AlKhoori did not specify the exact nature of the upgrades, he assured that guests can look forward to new experiences. 'We do have a lot of experiences that we are working on upgrading. Some experiences, locations, or activations will happen.' Safari adventure, animal encounters, live presentations, programmes like 'Junior Ranger' are among the popular experiences and activations at the Park. Record visitors The revelations on such a revamp came as the sixth season has registered a record footfall. AlKhoori noted that the current season, the sixth one, has been by far the 'most successful'. 'During season six, we had successful events. For example, night safari was totally sold out with more than 17,000 visitors over a period of four weeks,' he said, noting that there has been a 67 per cent increase in travel trade sales. Spread across six zones, Dubai Safari Park is home to over 3,000 animals from around the world, representing more than 250 species.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Brothers become youngest to earn 171 NPS Junior Ranger badges
March 10 (UPI) -- A pair of Idaho brothers are believed to be the youngest people to earn Junior Ranger badges at all 63 U.S. national parks -- as well as 108 other National Park Service Sites. David Rush, the man who holds the most concurrent Guinness World Records, said he and his family visited their first national park, Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border, in February 2020, when his sons Jeremy and Peter were 3 years old and 1 year old, respectively. The boys, now aged 8 and 6, have now completed the Junior Ranger program at all 63 national parks, as well as 108 other NPS sites. "Interested youth complete a series of activities during a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger patch and Junior Ranger certificate," the NPS' Junior Ranger website explains. "Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of 5 to 13, although people of all ages can participate." Rush said Jeremy and Peter are believed to be the youngest brothers to complete the Junior Ranger program at every national park. "When we visited our first national park 5 years ago as a family, we didn't imagine we'd make it to all of them, let alone in just 5 years. But the joy it brought us and our family, and the joy that the national parks bring with over 300 million visitors per year, justify them as America's best idea," Rush said. The father said he has submitted information to the NPS as well as Guinness World Records to see if Jeremy and Peter can get an official record for being the youngest brothers to earn 171 Junior Ranger badges, and if Peter can get recognized as the youngest overall to complete the feat.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Administration's federal layoffs close popular WA trails
The Brief Recent staffing cuts by the Trump Administration have led to the closure of popular trails and reduced services in Washington's national parks, affecting visitor experiences and environmental conservation. The closures include the Denny Creek Trail in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, with experts warning of long-lasting negative impacts on both the parks and local communities. Despite a rise in national park visitation, over 1,000 park jobs have been cut nationwide, leading to concerns about longer delays, reduced visitor services, and the overall morale of park staff. KING COUNTY, Wash. - Washington's National Parks are feeling the effects of recent staffing cuts made by the Trump Administration, with popular trails closing and services being reduced. Local perspective Many people who live in Washington enjoy the state's natural beauty year-round, but advocates warn that cutting park staff will have increasingly negative impacts. One of the most visible signs of the cuts is the closure of Denny Creek Trail in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The effects of the staffing reductions aren't only felt at the trailheads. Rob Smith, Northwest Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association, expressed deep concern over the impact of the cuts on park operations and visitor experiences. "I've met the park rangers a lot in my job. I know them, and it's really sad to see that they're so unappreciated when everyone loves national parks and their job," Smith said. "Every time I've met them, they've been friendly. They want you to come to the parks; they want to help you enjoy them, and yet they seem to be the victims of an across-the-board cut. For them, it's blunt trauma instead of a surgical removal." By the numbers The layoffs come as national park visitation continues to rise. Mount Rainier National Park, for example, has seen a 31% increase in visitors over the last decade while experiencing a nearly 29% decline in permanent staff, according to Smith. "The big crowds come in the summer. That's when you want to see the meadows, you want to see rangers help you tell where to go, Junior Ranger programs for kids, staffing visitor centers, and sometimes search and rescue," he said. "Those are the kinds of jobs that are at risk." Over 1,000 national park jobs were cut nationwide, which will lead to longer delays, shorter visitor center hours, and closed campgrounds. "Unfortunately, that's the outcome. Even if they have enough people for the three busy months of the summer, what about the rest of the year?" Smith asked. What's next While it's unclear how many people lost their jobs in Washington, Smith stressed that the impact on morale has been profound. "Morale is terrible in a job where you should be happy to be going to work and protecting a place like Mount Rainier," he said. The layoffs extend beyond national parks, with other federal agencies also bracing for cuts. Smith sees the trend as a troubling sign for public service as a whole. Despite the setbacks, approximately 7,500 seasonal employees will still be hired across the country. However, Smith notes that parks have been understaffed for years. Additionally, parks contribute billions of dollars to local economies, meaning communities will likely feel the financial strain as well. The Source Information in this story comes from the National Parks Conservation Association. Trooper crashes into wrong-way driver on I-90 in Bellevue, WA Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell arrested in 1996 on weapons, assault charges Judge makes ruling on DNA evidence in Bryan Kohberger trial WA Gov. Ferguson advocates for proposal limiting governor's emergency powers Armed woman in bogus UPS outfit accused of burglary in Pierce County, WA To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
