UAE- Turtles released into sea on World Turtle Day

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Five critically endangered turtles were returned to their natural habitat at Al Hamriya beach on Monday after being rehabilitated.

To celebrate World Turtle Day, Sharjah Museums Department released four hawksbill sea turtles and a green turtle that ranged between 5-30 years old.

The injured turtles were found by some residents and taken to Sharjah Aquarium, where they received treatment under the aquarium's rehabilitation programme that has been running for six years.

"Turtles are sometimes hit by boats or trapped in nets that are long left. Sadly, sometimes they eat plastic bags thinking it's jelly fish, resulting in the so-called floating syndrome where they cannot swim properly," said Rashid Al Shamsi, Sharjah Aquarium's curator.

He added that a team of marine biologists at the aquarium work on providing the relevant rehabilitation and conducting further research on the species. Once healed, the turtles are released when the time is right.

Al Shamsi also stated that divers survey the site before the releasing process to ensure the turtles meet suitable survival and breeding conditions.

"The hawksbills can last for 80-100 years if they live in the right environment," he told Khaleej Times.

"Next year, we will start tracking their movement and analysing their egg laying patterns to better understand of their suitable environment."

The hawksbill, named for its narrow head and hawk-like beak, has suffered an 80 per cent global loss of population in three generations despite international prohibition of hunting and trading.

Held under the museum's initiative "Because We Care," the release was attended by ministry of environment and several government officials, as well as fishermen and students.

"Seeing the turtles going back to sea with their full energy helps raise public awareness about sea creatures' protection," said Mariam Saeed Hareb, assistant under-secretary at the Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs Department in Ministry of Environment and Water.

"Don't pollute the sea and don't leave nets hanging. Once you find an injured sea animal, call local authorities in charge. Besides Sharjah Aquarium, there's Burj Al Arab in Dubai, and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD)," said Hareb.

She added that the ministry is currently working on a national action plan to protect migratory species.

The release is one of other initiatives held under "Because we Care" including beach clean ups and efforts to provide museum learning experiences to children with disabilities.