Abu Dhabi: A hotel is the last place a marine biologist would choose for a workplace, right?
But Arabella Willing, 26, has her reasons for joining the beachfront Park Hyatt Saadiyat.
“It’s perfect for me because Saadiyat is a nesting ground for Hawksbill turtles,” said Willing whose job entails taking hotel guests around turtle nesting sites and conducting workshops and lectures on marine conservation.
Willing, who has a degree in marine biology from St. Andrews University in Scotland, said she was first exposed to turtle nesting when she was working in Oman.
She said nesting beaches across the globe are rapidly declining. According to an estimate, there are only 8,000 nesting female turtles in the world.
Hence it’s no wonder hatching sites for the rare Hawksbill turtle at Saadiyat are protected by stringent guidelines from the Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority.
Resort development here has been restricted to at least 60 metres from the seaward edge of coastal dunes. Beach access is also restricted by elevated boardwalks to protect the coastal dune system.
“There is always a risk of people fiddling with the nests or trampling on the protected sand dunes. My job is to ensure that does not happen and guests adhere to the rules,” said Willing.
