Cold-stunned, injured, rescued: 50 sea turtles returned to Abu Dhabi waters
Dozens of children, conservationists, and curious onlookers lined the shores of Jumeirah Saadiyat Beach on Wednesday morning as 50 sea turtles, once injured or sick, were returned to their natural home.
A massive turtle which took several hands to carry from its container, seemed to sprint as soon as it touched the sand. Smaller turtles seemed equally excited — flicking flippers in the air as soon as they were lifted from their plastic basins. As they hit the shoreline, they shuffled their way through, disappearing into the water in a matter of seconds.
This public release, organised by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD), in collaboration with Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue and The National Aquarium, is part of a years-long effort to rescue and rehabilitate marine turtles vulnerable to threats in UAE waters. 'This season we've contributed 137 turtles,' said Scott McCoy, senior zoological director at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. 'Today, 25 of those are ready to go back. The rest will go back shortly.'
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The turtles released had spent weeks or months recovering from a range of conditions, from infections and injuries to one particularly surprising ailment: the cold. 'Yes, you heard me right, they get cold,' McCoy said. 'If they are in water that is too cold, it'll actually suck the energy from their body. They become lethargic, stop eating, and then you get dehydration and other issues.'
This phenomenon, known as 'cold-stunning', may seem unlikely in the Arabian Gulf, but marine experts say temperature swings between summer and winter are more extreme than many realise. 'In the summer, the water can reach 35°C, but in winter, it drops to 12°C or 13°C,' explained Lewis Cocks, curator at The National Aquarium. 'That massive change is what shocks the turtles. Being cold-blooded, they rely on the external environment to regulate their body temperature.'
Many of the turtles are juveniles, including hawksbills born locally in Abu Dhabi, who may not yet know to avoid colder waters in winter. Found washed ashore or floating with barnacle-covered shells, they are often reported by beachgoers and coastal residents. 'We really rely on the public,' said McCoy. 'If they ever see an animal in distress, we want them to call us.'
Members of the public can call the Abu Dhabi Government hotline (800-555) if they encounter a turtle on land or in the water, said Dr Hind Alameri, acting section head of marine biodiversity at EAD. But she cautioned against trying to help without guidance. 'Sometimes, they have injuries that can be worsened if handled. The best thing to do is stay away and report it,' she said.
EAD has rescued over 1,500 turtles since launching its programme in 2016. This season alone, 287 turtles have been saved — 140 by The National Aquarium and 147 by Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue.
For McCoy's team, the most serious case this season involved a turtle with a flipper amputation. 'We don't know why it was injured, but the flipper had to be removed. It's now doing great and will be released in the next batch,' he said. Even turtles with missing limbs can return to the wild if deemed fit by the environmental authorities. 'We make sure they can swim, feed, and survive on their own before release,' he added.
As part of their expanded research, this year 15 turtles, identified as special cases, are being fitted with satellite GPS trackers. 'You'll see five of those today,' said Cocks. 'We want to learn where they go, where they feed, and whether they migrate. It's valuable data for conservation.'
'These animals are getting a second chance,' McCoy concluded. 'They don't get that chance if it's not for the people who report them, and the people who work every day to bring them back.'
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