7Days: UAE public urged to report beached turtles at 04 301 7198

StatusFor sale
SellerAsif Iqbal
Seller's phone+971563489311
CategoryOther
Price1 AED ( $0.272 )
Posted on11 February 2016

Dozens of critically endangered turtles are washing up on the shores of UAE suffering from an infection due to low water temperatures.
So far, 130 Hawksbills turtles covered with barnacles have been taken in for treatment by the Dubai Turtle Rehabi­litation Project.
Many were found at Abu Dhabi Corniche and on beaches in Dubai. Beachgoers are being warned not to try to remove the barnacles but to hand the turtles over to the project.
David Robinson, the assistant aquarium operations manager at the aquarium in Burj Al Arab, , said: “Each year there are Hawksbills turtles, which is an endangered species, that wash up on the shores with barnacles on them.
Hawksbills turtles are tropical reptiles and they like warm water. However, the water temperature has been below 20C and this is when they start to struggle.
“They start becoming sick, their metabolism drops and they become lethargic and get covered in parasites.
“This happens every year, but there’s been more this year. In 2009, there 350 turtles that experienced this. Two years ago, there were only two turtles. This year, there’s been 130 so far.”
Robinson added that barnacles are natural in a turtle’s life, however, excessive barnacle growth suggests there is something wrong with the turtle and it could be infested with germs and parasites.
The project team has been posting messages on Facebook to advise residents who have found turtles on what to do with them.
The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project is a joint project between Jumeirah and The Wildlife Protection Office.
The project team can be reached at 04 301 7198.
sarwat@7days.ae

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