The Virtual Zoo program is a great source of fun and engaging resources for students of all ages. The program aims to share a lot of scientific information in an interactive way and share the importance of conservation with students through light-hearted chats and engaging examples, and there are special animal guests that education officers bring along to enable students to get in touch with nature.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Virtual Programmes are live sessions hosted via Microsoft Teams; each session is approximately 30 minutes long. Students join a video call with the Zoo Educator and will have the ability to interact with him or her for questions and answers.

HOW TO REGISTER

Our virtual programs are free, but pre-registration is required. Please fill out the virtual programs form to register for your upcoming virtual tour. All programs are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. If your desired program is already booked, you can join a waiting list, and you will be contacted to confirm your program and to follow up on logistics.

• Animal Body Coverings

Different kinds of animals have different body coverings. In this program, students investigate and make observations using their sense of touch to identify the different body coverings animals have and identify examples of animals with each different body covering. The program includes meeting new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits.

• Animal Classification

Animals are classified into different groups, and each has characteristics that the others do not. In this program, students take a close look at these classifications and what distinguishes the groups from each other. The program includes meeting new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits.

• Plant and Animal Life Cycles

A life cycle is a specific sequence of changes from birth to maturity and death of an organism. Both animal and plant life cycles go through a series of specific and organized changes, and the students discover the life cycles of various animals and plants. The program includes meeting new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits.

• Animal Teeth

This program focuses on the different food groups and the differences in teeth between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Students learn about animal skulls, including those of the lion, the zebra, and even the human skull, and will finally enjoy meeting new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits
 

• World of Fossils

In this program, we take students on a journey through time to learn about the different fossils we have discovered in the region. Students discover the difference between archaeologists and paleontologists and learn about excavation methods, the tools used, and the steps of fossil formation. The program includes a live tour of the “Abu Dhabi Through Time” gallery in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

• Rocks

Rocks provide us with many benefits, but the characteristics of these rocks must be taken into consideration to determine their most suitable purpose. Students learn about the three kinds of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) and rock formation in this program. The program includes a live tour of the “Abu Dhabi Through Time” gallery in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

• Sustainability

In this program, students learn about the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy and the carbon footprint. Also, they learn about sustainability methods in everyday life. The program includes a live tour of the “Looking to the Future” gallery in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

• Following Zayed’s Footsteps Tour

A special tour about the late Sheikh Zayed’s life and his achievements is full of history that tells different stories of the UAE related to our five galleries at the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre. The main objectives of this tour is to confirm our progress in following Sheikh Zayed’s footsteps and efforts to complete his environmental, cultural, and heritage vision. 

• Farm & Wild Animals

During this program, students learn more about the farm animals found at Al Ain Zoo and their benefits to humans. They will also learn about wild animals and the differences between them. The program includes an educational video about farm and wild animals and features the opportunity for students to meet new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits.

• Animal Habitats

Animals are especially good at adapting to survive in a particular habitat. Students will learn what a habitat is and learn how to identify specific types of habitats and their related characteristics. The program includes meeting new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits.

• Al-Ain Zoo’s Heroes

During this program, students learn about our Zoo heroes and the importance of their work for our animals, such as Zoo vets and Zookeepers. The program includes educational videos about one of our Zoo Heroes and meeting new friends through a live tour of one animal exhibit.

• Bird Beaks Station

In any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. This program focuses on bird beaks, exploring the relationship between a bird's beak and its ability to find food and survive in a given environment and learn about bird beaks as an example of an adaptation. The program includes meeting new friends through a live tour of one of the animal exhibits.  

• Grandma’s Treasure Box

In this program, participants learn about traditional clothing in UAE culture. They will learn about how sustainable our ancestors used to be in their daily lives. The program includes a live tour of the “People of the Desert” gallery in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

• Camels

In this program, students will learn about the importance of camels to Arabs and how camels are well adapted for survival in the desert. The program includes a live tour of the “People of the Desert” gallery in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.

• Traditional Crafts

In this program, students are introduced to the more traditional crafts that distinguish people from the coast, desert, oases, and mountains of the UAE in an interactive way. The program includes a live tour of the “People of the Desert” gallery in the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.