Gulf | Qatar
Bid to save 300 Hawksbill turtles along Ras Laffan Industrial City
Qatar University is working with Ras Laffan Industrial City to save some 300 Hawksbill turtles, all that remains of Qatar's once numerous turtle population, from extinction.
- By Barbara Bibbo', Correspondent
- Published: 23:16 March 14, 2008
- Endangered Hawksbill turtle now numbers only 300 in Qatar.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
Doha: Qatar University is working with Ras Laffan Industrial City to save some 300 Hawksbill turtles, all that remains of Qatar's once numerous turtle population, from extinction.
The Environmental Studies Centre at the university has conducted a site survey and mapping of the turtles nesting area along the shore of Ras Laffan Industrial City.
The study aims to develop a comprehensive plan for the conservation of the Hawksbill turtles that for centuries have been nesting on islands and sandy coastline in the north-eastern region of the country.
The Hawksbill and the green turtle used to live in large colonies in the waters of Qatar and Arabian Sea, where Loggerhead, Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles were also spotted.
Survey and mapping
Nowadays the green turtle is rarely found in Qatar. The Hawksbill is the only species with a notable presence in the country's waters but under the threat of rapid extinction.
The World Conservation Union has classified the Hawksbill turtle as critically endangered but only in the past few years countries in the region have taken notice and classified them as protected species and have taken some measures to preserve their habitat.
The survey of the Environmental Studies Centre under the supervision of Mohsin Al Ansi monitored turtle nesting activities and collected data on their ecology and reproductive biology.
It included morphometrics or the size and shape of eggs, mature females, and hatchlings as well as hatching success.
Nests were fenced and kept under observation throughout the incubation period. Estimates show that only one in 1,000 to 10,000 turtles will survive to adulthood due to threats from natural predators and human activities.
In an effort to increase the population, the centre carried out an experiment whereby hatchlings were raised at the Marine Section of Qatar National Museum at Doha.
Stranded hatchlings were transferred to the experimental tanks and were reared for eight months in filtered seawater.
"Human activity is the main threat to the turtles' survival. With time and continued education of the public and enforcement of government regulations against egg poaching, the status of marine turtles should be positively reversed," said Al Ansi in a statement.
Turtles in the region face extensive threats, ranging from construction along and off the coastline, to four-wheel drives at nesting sites. Wasteful fishing and oil pollution are also major causes.
Despite law, fishermen purportedly continue to hunt turtles and eggs for human consumption. To make things worse the illegal practice continues undisturbed in international waters.
Does this mean the end of some species? What more can be done to save these gentle creatures of the sea?
Your comments
You say that the turtles were on these islands for centuries but lets be honest ... they were without question there for millennium before the first people ever set their eyes on the land.
Tawfik
New York,USA
Posted: March 15, 2008, 11:55
Hand rearing egg batches would give the species more chance of survival. Whilst on holiday in Abu Dhabi I think I caught a small Hawksbill encrusted in barnacles and we cleaned it off and let it go.
Paul
Hull,England
Posted: March 15, 2008, 11:06
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