RAS AL HADD: Specialists at the Environment Centre within the Turtle Reserve in Ras Al Hadd have successfully managed 56 stranded turtles and recorded over 12,000 turtle tracks along the reserve's beaches during the first half of this year.
These figures underscore the significant ecological importance of the Turtle Reserve as one of the premier nesting sites for sea turtles in Oman.
The daily and periodic patrol operations carried out by the Environment Centre's specialists constitute one of the most critical field programmes aimed at monitoring sea turtles, responding swiftly to emergency situations, and eliminating potential threats to these marine creatures. These efforts contribute directly to enhancing turtle protection rates and preserving their natural habitats.
Nizar bin Salim al Araimi, Director of the Environment Department in Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, stated that these indicators affirm the success of the Environment Authority's initiatives in implementing the 'Environment Guardians' programme. This programme is designed to intensify field efforts for the protection of sea turtles.
He further noted that the number of nesting turtles recorded during the first half of the year exceeded 10,000, while the count of non-nesting turtles surpassed 2,000.
He elaborated that the programme also prioritises strengthening partnerships with local communities and visitors, while raising public awareness regarding the importance of conserving sea turtles and their natural habitats. He emphasised that these creatures represent a unique and irreplaceable natural and ecological asset, necessitating coordinated efforts from all stakeholders and community members to ensure their sustainability for future generations.
In a related context, the Turtle Reserve Centre — operating under the Environment Department of Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, in coordination with a number of fishermen and researchers from the Research Centre — successfully rescued a sea turtle that had become trapped between rocks along the Turtle Reserve's shores. This rescue was carried out as part of the daily field monitoring and patrol operations conducted by specialists to track turtle conditions throughout the nesting and hatching season. - ONA
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