A wildlife park in the United Arab Emirate of Ras al Khaimah is providing a space where neglected animals can be better looked after. In the UAE, the ownership of wild animals, specifically big cats such as lions and tigers, is the ultimate status symbol for the rich. But the owner and founder of the Ras al Khaimah Wildlife Par, Jasem Ali, says many of these animals end up being mistreated. "I have heard and seen for myself a lot of animals that were kept in homes and farms that were being abused, their living spaces were tiny, and were kept in an inappropriate environment. We started hearing stories of (attacks) taking place in farms which a lot of people don't know about, accidents involving workers, children. And some people even would take these animals out to public spaces, posing a danger to people," Ali said. The wildlife park is home to around 170 animals, including 30 different species. Most of them were rescued and then adopted. A few however were gifts from wealthy and influential Sheikhs. Ali has a particular affinity for the big cats, especially the lions. "The first wild animal I helped was a lion. He was living in an awful environment, in a cage that was only one meter by one meter and they had not cleaned the cage because they were terrified of him. They bought him when he was just a cub but when he grew up they came to fear him and couldn't care for him. Thank God I found him and since then, I started looking for animals in similar conditions to help," he said. According to Ali, the government is working to establish new laws and stricter regulations and is cracking down on the illegal trade and sale of such animals. One local UAE newspaper recently reported that a member of the elected legislative council is working to ban the ownership of exotic and dangerous wild animals altogether. But the problem is not just in the UAE but across the Gulf, Ali explained. "The biggest danger is from the animal traders, who breed or smuggle such animals. We are now cracking down on this, we are putting in new laws and regulations, but we also have animal breeders throughout the Gulf, who sell these animals without taking any responsibility. They sell to the highest bidder, without any consideration for what happens to the animals, where they end up and what danger they pose to the public," he said. Elsewhere in the UAE, a new Dubai zoo and Safari Park is expected to open by mid 2016. The new zoo will cost in the region on 150 million Dirhams (40.8 million USD) and will be home to 1000 animals from 350 different species.
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