In Dubai, the rehabilitation center of the Burj Al Arab hotel in the United Arab Emirates aims to save the tortoise turtles.
Since 2004, the turtle conservation program at the rehabilitation center of the Burj Al Arab hotel in the United Arab Emirates has been aimed at saving hawksbill turtles, which are rescued and rehabilitated here. Since its foundation, the center has hosted nearly 2000 turtles.
Once the animals are healed, they are released into nature, while the specimens that unfortunately are no longer able to return to their natural ecosystem, due to irreversible health conditions, find refuge for life.
Many of the cases that arrive in the Sanctuary are represented by specimens that have broken their carapaces (shells) by impacting with the propellers of the boats. Unfortunately, in the center there is no shortage of puppies, which do not resist low winter temperatures or strong currents, thus spilling onto the beaches. However, the worst threat to this species remains the ingestion of plastic, which leads to the animal becoming ill with infections and even death.
Furthermore, many of the turtles welcomed are affected by a strong growth of barnacles on the carapace, therefore, after their arrival, the carapaces are cleaned and the specimens subjected to all the necessary treatments. After a period of hospitalization, the turtles follow a rehabilitation process aimed at releasing them into the wild.
With only 8000 breeding females worldwide, the Hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species, so much so that it is on the IUCN red list: according to data it is estimated that in the last 30 years this species has experienced a decline in 87%.
We have endangered Hawksbill turtles that come near our beach and during the winter months
said Emily Armstrong, the Center's Marine and Environment Manager
The first part of the rehabilitation process is when the turtles are found injured or sick. Once the more complex treatments are finished and the animal is improving, it is transferred to a lagoon for turtles in rehabilitation, where the specimens spend the last part of the rehabilitation process. Here we are able to monitor their health and how they readjust to habitat conditions.
Barbara Lang-Lenton, director of the shrine, told Reuters.
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