Sharjah: His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Monday launched the second phase of Al Rhim Gazelle Initiative through which a total of eight rhim gazelles were released in Kalba’s mangrove reserve.
Dr. Shaikh also witnessed the launch of two osprey artificial nests, the first of their kind to be implemented in the UAE.
Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), said that Dr. Shaikh Sultan had released in the first phase 38 endangered gazelle species in 2012, adding that eight others were now released in the second phase of such operation into Kalba mangrove reserve.
Dr Shaikh Sultan also inaugurated in Kalba a branch of the University of Sharjah (UoS) theatre. The theatre’s inauguration is in line with Dr. Shaikh Sultan’s belief that theatres play a role in intellectual development and spreading awareness and education.
Dr. Shaikh Sultan also opened the Kalba Centre for birds of prey in Al Ghail’s natural reserve. Later, Dr Shaikh Sultan and his accompanying delegation toured the centre, which currently houses 38 different species of birds of prey, 14 of which are native species.
Background on rhim gazelle
Gazella leptoceros is a slender-horned gazelle (also known as sand gazelle) mostly adapted to the harsh desert environment.
Found throughout the Sahara desert, these gazelle roam around looking for spots of vegetation for their survival.
Endangered by the early 1970s, this species of gazelle was in serious decline until breeding programmes such as the one in Sharjah helped alleviate the situation.
