Doha Zoo is set to for a major overhaul over the next three to five years as it is converted into a safari park, reports the Peninsula.

The 30-year-old zoo, which has been criticized in the past for its outdated facilities and poor treatment of animals, closed without warning in August last year.

News reports at the time suggested the zoo would remain closed for months, but today’s report reveals a large-scale renovation which will take between three to five years to complete.

Dr. Qassim Nasser Al Qahtani, head of the Animal Resources Department at the Ministry of Environment, says that when finished, the new zoo will be three times larger than the existing plot.

“The new zoo will be like a safari park, providing suitable environments for each animal. It will provide entertainment areas for visitors. The premises will be connected to a market in the neighbourhood,” Al Qahtani told the Qatar News Agency.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has issued a report on the state of the current zoo, which concludes that its buildings are too old, and in some cases actually pose a danger to the general public, reports the Peninsula.

One resident has told Doha News that according to staff, the zoo’s animals have been moved to a new temporary home near Al Khor while the work is being carried out.

The overhaul – which reportedly could cost up to $55 million – follows a similar announcement in Dubai.

Last many, authorities in the UAE announced that Dubai Zoo would be expanded and renovated, and renamed the Dubai Safari Project. 

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Credit: Photo by Currybet