These aren’t tears, we’ve just got a bit of sand in our eyes…

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) oversees some pretty important conservation projects in the UAE, but it’s always a joy when we get to see rescued animals returned to their natural habitat.

And this weekend, one of Abu Dhabi’s most famous marine inhabitants, the sea turtle — was the star of a special sort of reintroduction ceremony. Following a successful wildlife rehabilitation project that was a collaboration between the EAD and The National Aquarium, a lucky group of selected families were permitted to get hands-on in releasing the plucky turtles back into the sea.

I like turtles

Getting young children involved with the process is an important part of conservation strategy. And building connections with the natural world around us is even more important now, in this virtual age of twinkling screens and proto-metaverse plug-ins.

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What can you do?

The Environment Agency has been asking Abu Dhabi residents to report any turtle sightings on 800 555. Protecting our natural environment and surrounding ecology is a community effort.

One of our aquatic residents, the hawksbill turtle is listed as critically endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species

Images: Abu Dhabi Media Office