Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM(ABU DHABI)
The Arabian Gulf welcomed 25 old friends on Thursday, as rescued sea turtles swam back into their natural habitat, capping months of expert care and rehabilitation.
They were released by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) at the beach of the Jumeirah Hotel on Saadiyat Island, in partnership with The National Aquarium and the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center.
This marks the latest chapter in EAD’s ongoing Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Programme, launched in 2016.
To date, the initiative has successfully rehabilitated and returned over 1,500 sea turtles to their natural habitat.
“This year alone, we’ve rescued 287 turtles, including green turtles, hawksbills, and loggerheads,” Hind Al Ameri, Section Head of Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation at EAD, told Aletihad. “Twenty-five were released [on Thursday], and another 25 will follow [on Friday].”
Following the Turtles’ Journey
Al Ameri explained that 15 of the rescued turtles have been fitted with satellite tags to monitor their movements post-release.
“Tagging allows us to track their migratory paths and behaviour after rehabilitation, helping us understand where they feed, nest, and how they adapt back in the wild,” she said.
Abu Dhabi is home to four sea turtle species, the most common of which are Hawksbill and Green turtles. Loggerheads and the rarer Kemp’s Ridley also occasionally appear in UAE waters.
“This year, we came across a few loggerheads, which are rarely seen in our waters, and we’re tagging them to learn more about the species,” Al Ameri added.
The satellite tags are attached to the turtles’ shells and activated when the animals surface to breathe, pinging their location to researchers via satellite.
This non-invasive technology provides critical insights into turtle ecology and helps shape marine protection strategies, Al Ameri said.
What is Cold Stunning?
Speaking with Aletihad, Scott McCoy, Zoological Director at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, highlighted the seasonal aspect of turtle rescues.
“Cold stunning is a major threat here. Juvenile turtles, unable to regulate their body temperature, sometimes get caught in cooler waters, becoming immobile and covered in barnacles,” he explained.
Cold stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to a sudden or prolonged drop in water temperatures, causing their metabolism to slow down dramatically.
Unable to swim or feed properly, these stunned turtles often float near the surface or wash ashore.
Rescue efforts typically involve warming and rehydrating the turtles until they regain enough strength to survive in the wild.
The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center plays a vital role in addressing such emergencies.
“This year, we’ve rescued 137 sea turtles and over 200 marine animals in total, including sea snakes, birds, and even dugongs and dolphins,” McCoy said.
The centre offers immediate and comprehensive care, leveraging over 25 rescue pools, an advanced water filtration system, and a dedicated animal hospital.
“We have a marine life ambulance and a response team that jumps into action when called by the EAD or the public,” McCoy added. “Once stabilised, turtles are monitored for weeks to months before being cleared for release.”
The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi is also lending its expertise to support injured and stranded marine animals.
“We often receive turtles suffering from cold exposure, boat strikes, entanglement, or plastic ingestion,” Head Curator Lewis Cocks told Aletihad. “Our team provides round-the-clock care, starting with a freshwater bath to remove barnacles, followed by diagnostics and, in some cases, surgical procedures such as fin amputations.”
Cocks noted that even turtles with permanent injuries are given the chance to return to the sea.
“For example, turtles that become entangled in fishing lines may require amputation. In some cases, we do release turtles that are missing one or even two flippers, once they’ve fully recovered and can survive independently in the wild,” he explained.
Rescue Meets Community Effort
Al Ameri credited much of this year’s turtle rescues to public reports.
“If you spot any marine animal in distress, whether a turtle, dugong, or dolphin, call the EAD hotline at 800-555,” she urged.
The second release on Friday will see UAE schoolchildren actively involved in returning turtles to sea.
Ten winning classes, selected through a quirky competition involving otters at the National Aquarium, were given the chance to name turtles and will help release them.
This serves as an opportunity to instil conservation values early on and shape the next generation of environment stewards, said Cocks.
“It’s important to educate the younger generation by involving children and schools in these efforts,” he added.
“By doing so, we can teach them why we save turtles, why rehabilitation is necessary, and most importantly, what they can do to help prevent harm. One simple but powerful message is to reduce plastic waste by reusing and recycling. Teaching kids these habits early on helps protect the marine environment.”
Abu Dhabi’s waters support a population of over 6,000 sea turtles. EAD has been actively researching and monitoring these marine animals since 1999 to ensure their conservation and recovery in the region.
