Thursday, Jun 25, 2009
Gulf News
Dubai: Twenty-four turtles were returned to the sea on Wednesday after a short stint on land during which they were rehabilitated and given time to recover their strength back.
Hawksbill juvenile turtles, most of which are usually under two years old, have been routinely washed up on Dubai's coastlines for the past six months. They were covered in barnacles and were extremely weak.
Watch video of turtle rescue effort
Check out more pictures of the rescue effort
The barnacles weigh them down making it harder to swim and search for food. In some cases the barnacles had even clamped their mouths or eyes shut.
According to David Robinson, the assistant manager at Burj Al Arab Aquarium, the turtles' plight was being caused by sea temperatures dropping in the winter season.
Robinson said this left the young turtles 'cold-stunned' as they are exposed to lower temperatures. As a result of this, they are forced to slow down, which gives barnacles and sea-squirts ample time to set up residence on turtles' shells.
Of the rehabilitated specimens, 22 were hawksbills and two were green turtles. They were brought to the rehabilitation centre at the Burj Al Arab with the help of the Emirates Marine Environment Group.
Tagged with metal number plates fixed to their front flippers. The tags will fall off eventually but in the mean time if the turtles wash up again, they can be tracked back to the rehab centre. A bigger turtle was microchipped.
Have you taken care of any injured animals? Should more corporations lend a hand in improving animal and social welfare?
By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
