UAE | Environment

Whales make 'rare' appearance in RAK

Two Emirati fishermen on Tuesday found themselves face to face with three killer whales about 12 kilometres off Al Rams shores here.

  • By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 13:08 December 25, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Killer whales spotted off Al Rams.
  • Image Credit: Nasouh Nazzal/Gulf News
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Ras Al Khaimah: Two Emirati fishermen on Tuesday found themselves face to face with three killer whales about 12 kilometres off Al Rams shores here.

Fahim Obaid and Ahmad Al Harsh were on a routine fishing trip when they encountered the whales, each of which was at least 10 to 12 metres long.

Killer whales could enter the cold waters of Arabian Gulf in the winter from the relatively warmer Arabian Sea and the northwest of the Indian Ocean, said Dr Saif Al Qais, head of the Ras Al Khaimah Environmental Protection and Industrial Development Authority.

First time

Coast Guards officials have also warned the fishermen to take extra care during their fishing trips.

"We were scared and taken by surprise, but we overcame our fear and followed them for about a kilometre," said Fahim Obaid. "We were about 20 metres close to these huge creatures," he added.

"It is the first such experience to spot whales. We have been taught by our seniors that our waters are free of the whales," he said.

"I have been in fishing since 1997, and from that time, my fishing trips have been safe and never encountered such scary whales," he said.

The two Emirati fishermen reported the sighting of the whales to the Frontier and Coast Guard Department, which instructed them to return and to be careful on their way back and to avoid the area of the whales as much as they can.

"The sea was calm and we had a great chance to monitor the whales for sometime," Obaid said adding that he and his relative Al Harsh also saw spots of blood.

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