Jumeirah Group’s Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project has released 15 Hawksbill and 6 Green Turtles, both of which are considered endangered species, from its Jumeirah Al Naseem beach, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Friday.
Coinciding with the World Sea Turtle Day 2023, the release in the Arabian Gulf underscores the vital role turtles play in maintaining the balance of marine habitats, WAM said.
Among the successfully rehabilitated turtles were one large female green turtle which had suffered carapace damage due to a boat strike, as well as a male hawksbill turtle named Zippy.
Zippy was rescued by the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project in October 2022, after being found in bad shape floating near the Ras al Khaimah shoreline and reported via the 800 TURTLE helpline.
Zippy suffered intestine impaction from eating plastic debris, a severe lung infection and was completely covered in barnacles.
The event was hosted by Katerina Giannouka, Chief Executive Officer at Jumeirah Group. In her welcome speech, she said, “With many of our resorts being coastal, both here in the Middle East as well as in Europe, Indonesia and the Maldives, we witness first-hand the impact of climate change on precious marine species and these delicate ecosystems.”
“Coastal resilience and biodiversity health are critical to Jumeirah as a business and for the tourism and hospitality sector globally. We have an obligation to act now, to educate, to collaborate, and to champion progress towards a sustainable future for all," Giannouka added.
The event was attended by key partners including government representatives, academia and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Also in attendance were representatives from Yas Sea World Research and Rescue, who performed a CT scan on Zippy at the start of his remarkable rehabilitation journey.
