Saturday, Oct 22, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai A total of 35 Hawksbill turtles were returned to the sea yesterday after they were washed up on UAE beaches due to exhaustion or undernourishment.
After several months with the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation project the tiny animals, which are critically endangered, were released from the Emirates Marine Environment Group (EMEG) beach reserve. Despite rough seas yesterday morning, all turtles made a beeline for the water.
“More care needs to be given to the beaches of the UAE to protect nesting sites,” said Ali Saqr Al Suwaidi, director of EMEG. “We have about 25 nests on our beach because it is a protected area but other beaches have been developed and the turtles have fewer places to nest,” he said.
EMEG’s turtle monitoring team visits known nesting sites in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and on islands around Abu Dhabi to try and deter poachers. Around 450 nests were recorded this year.
“Turtles that hatched in August will have had hot sea conditions and now as the water cools down, they get stunned and have trouble moving and feeding,” said Laurence Vanneyre, project manager, EMEG. “We have seen signs of poaching in the UAE where the eggs and even the turtles sometimes are taken,” said Vanneyre.
By Emmanuelle Landais?Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
