FILE PHOTO. A total of 92 nests were shifted to safe place during the season
Under a major state project to protect the environment to ensure biological diversity, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has released 5,706 Hawksbill baby turtles into the sea.
The Head of Wildlife Section and Acting Director of Department of Protection and Wildlife at the Ministry, Ali Saleh Al Marri, has said that endangered species of turtles were released during nesting season of sea turtles 2019.
“A total of 92 nests were shifted to safe place during the season, and the overall hatching success rate reached 82 percent which is a great success of the project this year,” said Ali Saleh Al Marri while addressing a press conference at the headquarters of Environment Sector of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
The press conference aimed at highlighting the efforts made during the nesting season the endangered Hawksbill sea turtle 2019, and to identify the results and outputs of the project for this year and honouring the project team and the participants.
The Head of Wild Life Section at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ali Saleh Al Marri (centre), with other officials at the Ministry, addressing a press conference at its headquarters in the West Bay, Doha, yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Al Marri pointed out that the State of Qatar has a unique experience in the field of protecting Hawksbill turtles, noting that the project to establish industrial incubators would provide greater protection for turtle nests.
He stressed that the environmental sector seeks to address all factors that threaten wildlife through the development of mechanisms, programs and projects that will provide adequate protection for biodiversity in Qatar. He pointed out that the authorities concerned have imposed fines of QR10,000 on those who violate the environmental laws and procedures in force, noting that the municipality is implementing awareness campaigns targeting the camps during the season.
Dr. Yasser Hassan Nasr, Consultant at the Department of Protection and Wildlife, pointed out that in the future, the project seeks to encourage partnership in research and innovative solutions, which supports the expansion of knowledge banks for biodiversity data records in accordance with national priorities.
Dr Mohamed El Sayed Ahmed, an expert at Department of Protection and Wildlife, explained that the project has achieved positive results continuously, indicating that the municipality’s efforts are continuing to protect wildlife.
