It’s great to hear that brunches, restaurants, hotels are breathing life back into Abu Dhabi, but the region’s wildlife is thankfully also getting more than just a look in.
words Derek Issacs
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) joins forces with the the largest aquarium in the Middle East – The National Aquarium to protect wildlife in Abu Dhabi.
The official agreement will help create the largest and one of the most innovative rehabilitation schemes of its kind to protect and rehabilitate wildlife in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
According to the agreement, both parties will be working closely together to conserve wildlife, specifically wild sea turtles, which will be rehabilitated within the aquarium.
The virtual signing ceremony was held between Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD and Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment, developer of Al Qana and The National Aquarium.
The signing took place virtually due to the pandemic
The five-year contract outlines how The National Aquarium will support EAD with some of its ongoing wildlife conservation programmess, the development of new awareness campaigns and unique educational experiences in the region.
The National Aquarium will also work with the agency in further research studies and gathering of data, while encouraging exciting internship opportunities for students of biology, ecology and veterinary education.
Her Excellency, Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD’s Secretary General, said:
“Having such facilities within the confines of Abu Dhabi will assist our continuous efforts to preserve wildlife in the emirate.
“By collaborating with The National Aquarium, we will be able to rehabilitate various wildlife species before releasing them into their natural habitats, while expanding our scientific studies.”
She added that Sea turtles would be one of the main species that the project will focus on, and this agreement will add to the successful rehabilitation projects that have taken place over the years.
“As far back as 2001 we have been working on conserving Sea turtles in Abu Dhabi waters.
“Now, the overall foraging Sea turtle populations, namely Hawksbill and Green Turtles, have been relatively stable over the last decade. Based on data from aerial surveys, we have more than 5,000 wild sea turtles in our waters, ” HH added.
Paul Hamilton, The National Aquarium GM said: “We want to create memorable moments for people to reconnect with nature.
“Our daily lives have become disconnected from the natural world and while we are slowly realising the impact that humans are having on the environment, there is still a long way to go to address these issues.
“That is why it is so important to reach new audiences and educate future generations about the importance of protecting and rehabilitating our wildlife and ecosystems.
“We recognise the important role we must play with regards to education and the conservation of Abu Dhabi’s natural treasures. Hence, we have constructed specialised facilities and a rapid response vehicle to assist our veterinarians in effectively reacting to wildlife emergencies.”
The agreement will see The National Aquarium provide full veterinary treatment support and in-house care, as well as general animal husbandry expertise, until the animals are fully recovered before their release back into nature.
They will also collaborate with EAD for satellite tagging and services, when required.
Wild sea turtles are among the most highly migratory animals on the planet, and their numbers are a great reflection of the condition of marine environments.
Of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, two occur in Abu Dhabi’s waters: the Critically Endangered Hawksbill turtle and the Endangered Green turtle.
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from Abu Dhabi World Online
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