Tourism & Hospitality | Wednesday 22 April, 2015 9:06 am |

- The 2015 competition returns with new categories and valuable prizes, encouraging enthusiasts to take their best shots of wildlife and nature–

Al Ain Zoo’s annual photography and videography competition has kicked off, challenging young enthusiasts to take their best shots and videos of Arid Land Wildlife and their zoo experience until the end of May.
With a focus on capturing behaviour and the improvements in camera phone technology, anyone can enter the competition without the need for expensive equipment. Through exciting new categories, budding, amateur and professional photographers and videographers have the opportunity to showcase their creativity. Six categories form this year’s main ‘Zoography’ photo competition including ‘At Play’, ‘Snackattack!’, ‘At Rest’, ‘Friendship’, ‘Poser’, and the zoo’s answer to Selfies – ‘Zoofies’!
Commenting on the new additions, Muna Al Dhaheri, the Chief of Conservation and Education at Al Ain Zoo, said:

“Educating all our visitors, and especially the younger generation about animals and ensuring that wildlife and nature is a source of inspiration for them is a core commitment of Al Ain Zoo. This year, new categories were added to the competition, which gives us a great opportunity to further communicate our conservation efforts, and reward those who help us put these efforts in a picture. The launch of the new Photographer of the Year awards will help further establish Al Ain Zoo’s leading role in the topic of Arid Land Wildlife, bringing to life the beauty we need to conserve, and the challenges such life faces in today’s world.”
“The response to last year’s competition was great, and with the addition of new categories and exciting prizes this year, the continued and valued support of Grand Stores and Nikon, we are confident that participants will surprise us with even more creative entries,” she added.
New for 2015, the zoo starts its hunt to find the ‘Arid Land Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ and ‘Junior Arid Land Wildlife Photographer of the Year’. The two dedicated awards are open to anyone in the world and participants are required to submit photos of arid land species either in the wild, at the zoo, interacting with their natural habitats, or trying to adapt to the changing world.
The zoo also launched ‘My Day at Al Ain Zoo Video Competition’, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the first ever YouTube video called “My Day at The Zoo” filmed at San Diego Zoo, one of Al Ain Zoo’s strategic partners. This category invites budding videographers to film their journey and best moments at the zoo.
A welcome return for 2015 is the sponsorship of Grand Stores and Nikon Camera’s, donating a range of high-tech camera equipment, animal photo workshops and participating in the judging panel to decide the winners. The winning entries will be exhibited in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, due to open later this year, and also featured in the zoo’s 2016 calendar. The winners will be announced on 30 September, 2015.
About the Competition Categories:
At Play - Animals enjoy their lives at Al Ain Zoo and whether it’s pulling funny faces or pulling pranks on one another, they brighten both their day and the zoo’s with their antics. Look out for when the zoo adds ‘enrichment’ activities to brighten their day.
Snackattack – Feeding time is most animal’s favourite time of the day, from a Crocodile’s snappy snacking to Lady the Gorilla foraging out her favourite seeds.
At Rest – Arid Lands are hot places and most of our animals are highly acclimatized to the weather. From digging a shallow hollow to lay in, to a flick of the tail animals take it easy and rest in the heat of day to keep themselves cool. Being in Al Ain, the green heart of the UAE, many animals enjoy the shade of the abundant plant life in the zoo.
Friendship – As we have 4,000 animals, most of our 197 species are not alone. Look out especially for baby animals making friends or sharing family moments. One of 2014’s winners celebrated the intimacy of Chimpanzees, and you can spot other more unusual friendships in the zoo in our mixed animal exhibits – or snap a close encounter in the children’s petting zoo.
Poser – Humans aren’t the only ones to strut their stuff. From the birds on display in our bird and parrot shows, to the prowl of a leopard the zoo has plenty of attention seekers. From displays of plumage to flexing of muscles, in the animal kingdom survival of the fittest is often survival of the most fabulous.
Selfie – We all know you love a selfie. Put those reverse camera phones on, get out your selfie sticks, set your timers to get back in the picture and share online to your heart’s galore – all with your favourite animals in the background. Just remember to not be too enthusiastic and try to get too close - where we have fences it’s for a reason!
For more information on the terms and conditions for each category, kindly visit www.alainzoo.ae
Al Ain Zoo is open daily from 9am to 8pm until 31st May, 2015. Summer Night Zoo operating hours will begin 1st June, 2015, opening daily from 4pm to 10pm.

For more information on Al Ain Zoo please visit www.alainzoo.ae.
You can also follow Al Ain Zoo on www.facebook.com/AlAinZooUae or www.twitter.com/AlAinZooUAE

About Al Ain Zoo:
Al Ain Zoo was founded in 1968 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. Being concerned about the wildlife and nature of his homeland all his life, the late Sheikh Zayed established this unique zoo in the Middle East with the vision of creating natural habitats for animals to live freely. Since its founding, Al Ain Zoo has been a centre for endangered species conservation, most notably the successful breeding of desert antelopes and gazelles, such as the endangered Arabian Oryx. Today, Al Ain Zoo has become a family destination that provides entertainment and learning experiences in a natural outdoor environment. Visitors of all ages discover the zoo’s wildlife and enjoy a great day-out packed with fun and adventure, while learning about conservation and exploring a collection of around 4000 animals.
Al Ain Zoo is home to an internationally important conservation programme focusing on the wildlife of the world’s arid regions, and the zoo is involved in conservation research, captive breeding and propagation and the reintroduction of threatened species to their wild habitats. Our collection of desert antelopes is recognized as among the best in the world. Al Ain Zoo is a proud member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA). Strategic partnerships have been set up with leading zoos, conservation agencies and associations from across the world, including the World Conservation Union and Species Survival Commission, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, San Diego Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya and the Sahara Conservation Fund.
As part of the UAE’s commitment to wildlife conservation both within the UAE and internationally, Al Ain Zoo is further developing the area around the existing zoo into an entertainment and tourist attraction dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and conserving desert wildlife. Educational and discovery programmes, along with future development projects, will be available at this new destination called Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, which will provide an extraordinary opportunity for visitors to explore and learn about the desert world and experience a world-class tourist destination. Embedded within the UAE World Desert, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre will feature educational exhibits that celebrate the wildlife and traditions of the desert, celebrate the conservation heritage of the late Sheikh Zayed and help chart a sustainable future for desert living.
About Nikon
Nikon is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognised for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Grand Stores LLC distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX compact digital cameras, Nikon sports optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable lens system in the United Arab Emirates.
About Grand Stores
A leading distributor and retailer based in the UAE for past three decades, Grand Stores is the regional distributor of several world renowned brands in imaging, Information Technology & Accessories, perfumes & cosmetics, luggage, linen & dinnerware. Headquartered in Dubai with investments across the region, Grand Stores currently operates 35 showrooms in the UAE alone.
In recognition of the high standards maintained over the years and the excellent services provided to its customers, Grand Stores stands accredited with the ISO 2000-9001 Quality Certification and the Dubai Service Excellence Scheme Membership. The company has also acquired further three awards, such as the Dubai Quality Appreciation Programme Award, the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award and the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award. Grand Stores offers its customer the world’s best brands – Nikon, Fujifilm, Lexar, Epson, Hisense, Rollei, Samsonite, American Tourister, Chanel, Givenchy, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, Azzaro, Thomaston, Signoria, Centa Star, Greggioand many more.