Flamingo protection in UAE achieves major results

World
Europe

01:13

The population of flamingos has increased gradually thanks to efforts to protect and promote bio-diversity in the area by the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the past two decades.

The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve on the east of Abu Dhabi island, the capital city, is the country's first natural reserve. The government issued environmental protection rules when flamingos first began appearing frequently in this area in the late 1990s.

Pink flamingos at the Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, UAE. /VCG Photo

"We fenced off the site, we provided protection, and a comprehensive intensive research program took place. We keep counting them, studying their behavior and based on their monitoring program results, we do some management practices to ensure that the site is suitable for the flamingos, everything," said Khaldoun Ameen Alomari, manager of Wathba Wetland Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi.

The ecosystem of the wetland has improved significantly thanks to effective planning and management in the area and the reutilization of urban water has guaranteed enough water for the swamps, creating a natural green world with unique flora and fauna.

Pink flamingos at the Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, UAE. /VCG Photo

To adapt to the process of urbanization, environmental organizations created a green belt between the highway and the wetland with 2,500 local plants, protecting the flamingos from disturbances and to improve local bio-diversity.

Besides for flamingos, the Wathba Wetland currently has almost 260 bird species and 300 terrestrial animals including hares, hedgehogs and lizards.

Pink flamingos at the Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, UAE. /VCG Photo

It also recently became the first natural reserve on the Arabian Peninsula to be listed in the Green List of Protected Areas by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Wathba is the eco-protection model for another 18 nature reserves in the UAE.

"Protecting the area is the natural solution for the climate change, playing a major role as a carbon sink. Maintaining bio-diversity, that means maintaining life. Healthy environment means healthy people," said Alomari.

Know more Secrets behind the flamingo's charm.