Madinat Jumeirah

Madinat Jumeirah highlighted its wonderful turtle programme as part of its submission. Here is an extract…
“The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) is based at the Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah and run in conjunction with Dubai’s Wildlife Protection Office. It has been running since 2004 and has so far released over 500 rescued sea turtles back into Dubai’s waters. This year alone, over 350 sick or injured sea turtles have been treated by the DTRP’s team of marine biologists after washing up on the region’s beaches. In February this year the CSR team along with Sports and Leisure opened our 2nd turtle rehabilitation pen in Mina A’ Salam waterways, for rehabilitation of sick or injured juvenile turtles from Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP). Initial treatment of all sick or injured sea turtles brought in takes place at Burj Al Arab Aquarium, before they are taken to Madinat Jumeirah, to complete rehabilitation in the two waterways located pens at Mina A’ Salam. There have been a number of turtle release events the Madinat Jumeirah team have facilitated over the 2011/ 2012 period with the turtles who have fully recovered in the pens at Mina A’ Salam. On 29 June 2012 over 1000 supporters of the DTRP attended The Big Jumeirah Sea Turtle Race to watch six satellite tagged sea turtles and 150 Hawksbill turtles released back into the ocean at Madinat Jumeirah. The Madinat Jumeirah team included security, lifeguards, sports and leisure department, just to name a few. Hundred of guests, colleagues and supporters cheered as the turtles made their way back into the sea at the event which was designed to raise awareness of the project and its role in rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles. On November 26 2011 hundreds of guests, competition winners and 40 children from the Zayed Foundation for Humanitarian Care gathered on the Madinat Jumeirah beach to watch the release of six rehabilitated green sea turtles from the beach at Madinat Jumeirah. As part of the UAE 40th National Day Celebrations, a 40kg turtle was also released back into the ocean. The turtle, called 'Emerald', was brought to the DTRP at Burj Al Arab three years ago after suffering from life threatening injuries. On the morning of the release, Emerald was fitted with a satellite tracking device that enables the public to monitor her movements throughout the world's oceans while gaining invaluable insight into the life of a turtle. Turtle Rehabilitation On June 16 2011 in celebration of World Sea Turtle Day, the DTRP successfully returned 101 critically endangered hawksbill turtles back to their natural habitat following several months of rehabilitation at Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah. 101 children, including competition winners, pupils from a local school and hotel guests, released the turtles from the beach of Madinat Jumeirah back into the Arabian Gulf. The event, which attracted a large crowd with children’s activities and a taste of Jumeirah hospitality, was designed to raise awareness of the importance of the turtle rehabilitation programme, issues facing turtles, their risk of extinction (with an 87% decline in the hawksbill turtle population in the last three decades) and conservation of the marine environment. Earth Day – beach release of 100 rehab turtles | In celebration of World Earth Day, on 22nd of April 2011 , 100 endangered Hawksbill turtles were released back into their natural habitat. Following several months of rehabilitation the record number of 100 turtles were released by 100 children on the sandy beach at Madinat Jumeirah.”

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