A tropical ecosystem in a bio-dome, The Green Planet is located at City Walk in the heart of Jumeirah, Dubai. The unique attraction opened to the public in September 2016.
It was the outcome of a collaboration between Meeras and zoOceanarium Group, specialists in developing and operating a new generation of aquarium and zoological facilities. zoOceanarium Group created and ran The Green Planet for Meraas, with a focus on excellent animal care, and creating chances for people to appreciate and learn about animals through once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The Green Planet – now owned by Dubai Holding Entertainment – is based in an origami-style glass building. The bio-dome is a complete tropical ecosystem, essentially a microcosm of the rainforest. It is home to more than 3,000 species of plants and animals, each of which has a key role in the ecosystem.
We speak to Sara Stevens, head of operations and curator at The Green Planet.
The Green Planet’s mission
Sara Stevens has been at The Green Planet since 2017 when she started as assistant curator. Previously, she was assistant manager of marine mammal operations at Dolphin Bay, for Atlantis Resorts.
Today, she leads daily operations across The Green Planet. This includes working to ensure the overall health and well-being of 4,000 animals, from more than 300 species. She also works with cross-functional leaders on matters such as future collection planning, animal husbandry and care, sales, marketing, guest services, fiscal responsibilities and regulatory control. Plus, Stevens directs all zoological operations, including exhibit design, animal collection planning, zoological research, conservation breeding programmes, and so on.
She begins by setting out The Green Planet’s mission, and also talking about the factors that make it unique:
“The Green Planet is Dubai’s only indoor rainforest home to over 3,000 plants and animals across four indoor rainforest levels. It is an immersive and interactive space. Here, guests can see, hear, feel and experience some of the world’s most unique animals and plants native to a tropical environment, in a safe ecosystem.
“Our mission is to bring together nature and the science of nature, alongside guest attractions and experiences,” she explains. “We want to help raise awareness of the world’s most diverse ecosystems and the role we all play in protecting them.
Memorable experiences
In terms of the experiences visitors can expect on-site, she adds:
“We are a fun and educational facility. So, guests can look forward to multiple unique experiences with exotic animals and plants across the bio-dome all through the year.
“From exclusive close encounters with reptiles, including snakes, lizards and geckos as well as sleepy sloths or cheeky anteaters, guests can get an up-close experience with these amazing creatures. They can learn why these animals are so important to the rainforest, and also take pictures with them. The encounters include a private session with our highly skilled and trained biologist to answer any questions.”
“For those interested in how nocturnal rainforest animals such as the slow loris, Tokay gecko, anaconda, and prehensile-tailed porcupine behave when darkness falls, we take our guests through an underground walkthrough. Here, they can discover how the Creatures of The Night go about their day-to-day activities, in the dark.”
Zookeeper for a day at The Green Planet
Animal lovers are also offered the experience of becoming a zookeeper for a day:
“These are exclusive sessions lasting for three hours. The experience includes a team that explains everything from behind the scenes, a visit to the laboratories and an understanding of how to nurture endangered species on the planet. This is a great opportunity for students looking to explore future career prospects in this field,” she comments.
“As guests explore the biome, we transport them into the depths of the tropics with an immersive, real-life experience of what a tropical thunderstorm feels like. The Green Planet biologists walk visitors through what is happening during the daily thunderstorm bursts and how the animals react to them.”
Animal encounters are an important tool in teaching guests, according to Stevens. These experiences can help to engage them in conversations about conservation and climate change:
“The animal encounters serve as a learning experience for children and adults alike. These sessions are interactive, engaging and memorable. Our guests are brought into the animal’s world. This means that they can better understand their eating habits, how they should be cared for and the vital role these species play in the future of our planet.
“Such experiences help our guests to think outside the box. They allow guests to engage in conversations with our staff to help them understand important matters such as climate change and the value of conservation.”
Spreading the conservation message
She details the institution’s education, outreach and event strategies, and their value in terms of communicating conservation messaging:
“In addition to being a fun place to visit, we want children and adults to walk out of the Green Planet with a better understanding of the planet. We are aligned with the learning objectives of the school curriculum established by the Ministry of Education. We have many different programs for children between the ages of 3 and 14.”
“These interactive programs include an introduction to a variety of scientific and environmental topics related to the ecosystem of a tropical forest. For example, how rainforests stabilize the climate, complex relationships between plants and animals, natural food resources and more. We do this through interactive role-playing activities, dancing, colouring, dynamic discussions and debates and more.
“As Dubai’s only indoor rainforest, we are aligned with the country’s commitment to promoting environmental protection. We encourage children and adults to come and visit the bio-dome, not only to see these incredible animals but also to learn more about the role we all play in saving our planet for future generations.
“We also host completely eco-friendly tropical birthday parties at the bio-dome. With these, children can explore and learn about the wonders of nature as they go on a fun rainforest adventure.”
What’s new for The Green Planet?
A number of exciting projects and interesting events are set to go ahead at The Green Planet this year:
“2023 is an exciting year for us,” says Stevens. “We’re always looking to provide our guests with an upgraded and diverse wildlife experience.
“For instance, we recently launched ‘Friends of The Green Planet’, the official ambassadors of the bio-dome that are on a mission to spread awareness of the importance of preserving the planet.”
The ambassadors in question are four wildlife mascots that have arrived at The Green Planet. They are playful polar bear Theodore from the frozen Arctic; Muffin, a laid-back but strong panda from the tropical rainforests of Asia; Mojo, a gorilla from the African jungles; and Bob, an easy-going sloth from the South American Tropics. The Green Planet’s official environmental heroes, these mascots aim to educate and drive awareness of ecological sustainability.
The animals are available for special meet-and-greets and photos at the bio-dome. They are on a mission to save the planet by helping people become more aware of its plight, and of the importance of taking action to save it.
“The addition of the mascots is in line with our mission to spread awareness and understanding of the importance of wildlife preservation and ecological sustainability in the region,” Stevens says.
Meet the new mascots
The ‘Friends of The Green Planet’ will be at the bio-dome daily for special meet-and-greets and chances for guests to have a photo with them from Monday to Friday at 2 pm and 4 pm, as well as weekends at 12 pm, 2 pm and 4 pm. ‘The Friends of The Green Planet’ will also add some extra fun to birthday parties in the tropical rainforest.
In addition to hanging around at the bio-dome, the environmental heroes will be touring schools, hospitals and other locations. By doing so, they will help to educate guests about the important role the tropical forest plays in the future of Earth.
In terms of real animals, she adds:
“This year we will introduce a wide range of species. That even includes some that are first of their kind in the region. These species have been carefully chosen to join The Green Planet family to provide an even more exciting reason for all to return and learn more about our newest animals throughout the year.”
Echidnas arrive at The Green Planet
The first of these new additions were the UAE’s first male and female short-beaked echidnas. They joined The Green Planet Family on 5 April 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome two adorable echidnas to the region for the very first time,” says Stevens.
“Typically found in Australia, including Tasmania, these fascinating creatures are a unique addition to the bio-dome. There’s so much to learn about these species. We’re glad to offer our guests an educational experience while spreading more local awareness of the species and enhancing support for conservation.”
