Dubai: Hawksbill sea turtles, which are at risk of extinction, have created 15 nests in the past two months near the shores of Jebel Ali’s Marine Sanctuary in Dubai to lay their eggs, Dubai Municipality said on Tuesday.
Alia Al Harmoudy, director of the Environment Department at the municipality, said that Hawksbill sea turtles flock to the reserve annually to lay their eggs and nest.
The sanctuary is managed by the municipality in coordination with Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG).
The sanctuary is the only area in Dubai where the turtles nest.
Ali Saqr Al Suwaidi, head of EMEG, said that the first nest was found on March 8 and they have identified a total of 15 nests near Jebel Ali Palm and the waterfront area between then and April 17.
The two entities have been working together since 2007 to monitor the breeding season of the Hawksbill turtle.
The sanctuary was declared a protected site in 1998 with the main objective of conserving the marine natural resources of Dubai, and is a sanctuary for two kinds of sea turtles, the Hawksbill and the green turtle.
Both species are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Aisha Al Murr Al Muhairi, head of the protection of natural resource department at the municipality, said each nest contains between 60-70 eggs.
“When the nests are created we take the necessary actions to protect the eggs and move them to a safe place away from predators, so that the newly hatched turtles are not in danger of being eaten by foxes, cats or seagulls,” Al Muhairi said.
The department has moved 271 eggs, which are expected to hatch within 55-60 days.
