Wild animals attraction at Dubai Mall

As the home to the tallest building, largest mall and biggest candy shop, Dubai also proved its penchant in other things than these inanimate objects. The Dubai Mall became home to a giant

pacific octopus — the largest species of octopus on the planet.

The newest occupant, who lives at the mall’s Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, stretches out to a fear-inducing 14 feet, and weighs over 70 kilograms (154 pounds).

The aquarium announced it had acquired one of the largest known reptiles on the planet, earlier this month which is a 1,600-pound crocodile who has been dubbed King Croc (they also flew in his companion, Queen Croc).

A theme park consultant and the managing director at Leisure Business Advisors said that the mall’s current preoccupation with large animals is consistent with the Emirate’s obsession with record-breaking pursuits. With the best, the biggest and the fastest of everything, dubai can now brag to have arrived on the world stage. Thus possessing the record-breaking animals is another way to keep up to that fame. John Gerner also said that the rising room rates and occupancy using an animal attraction as an amenity is a merging of concept.

The country is no stranger to peppering its entertainment offerings with animals exotic to the region. In 2012, Ski Dubai — the indoor ski slope housed at Mall of the Emirates — welcomed a colony of King and Gentoo penguins. In 2008, Atlantis, The Palm hotel courted controversy from animal rights groups when it hosted a whale shark in its in-built aquarium.

Ashley Fruno, the Asia and Middle East senior campaigner for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said that if the Dubai Mall wants to set itself apart from the rest, there are other ways to do that than imprisoning wild animals in concrete enclosures and taking away everything that is natural and important to them.

In a statement, Emaar, the developers for The Dubai Mall, note that King Croc and his companion were obtained from a crocodile farm in Australia. They add that the transfer was facilitated in partnership with Australian government authorities, who reviewed the quality of the display, qualifications of the staff caring for the animals and the educational purpose of the exhibit.

Emaar also notes that the habitat made for the two crocodiles is three times the size specified by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The country’s fascination with wild animals isn’t always limited to the indoors.

Last year the UAE’s Ministry of Environment and Water issued bans on the commercial and personal import of a variety of exotic animals — including many big cats and primates — yet they remain popular pets for many Emiratis, who see them as a status symbol.

Several locals have shot to Instagram fame showcasing their exotic animal collection.

Although a new concept in the UAE, there is a rising awareness growing day by day, and new animal welfare groups are popping up in the region all the time, there is not much rise on the animal rights.