The Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, has successfully rehabilitated 10 greater flamingos rescued during February’s harsh weather event effected by Al-Mizr low pressure at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. Heavy rains were accompanied by exceptionally large hail showers, which greatly affected the reserve.
For nearly 60 years, SeaWorld has rescued over 41,000 animals and is one of the largest marine rescue organizations in the world. We look forward to continuing to support marine wildlife rescue work across the region in the future.
It is expected that greater flamingos, which breed in several batches during the winter and early summer in the reserve, will reproduce again, recovering the losses due to the hailstorm. The reserve recorded 1,270 breeding pairs in the 2023-2024 winter breeding season and therefore the reserve is expected to recover losses of the 2023-2024 nesting season without the need for any human intervention.
The Agency has been monitoring both terrestrial and marine bird species at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve since 2002. Since 2005, the Agency has been using advanced satellite-tracking devices to monitor the movement and migration patterns of the greater flamingos from the reserve to northern areas during the summer.
The Greater Flamingo is a largely migratory species, returning annually to Abu Dhabi from breeding colonies in Central Asia. However, groups of greater flamingos reside in some of the UAE's major wetlands, including Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and adjacent coastal sites.
The 4.5-square kilometre inland Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is managed by EAD, and was established as Abu Dhabi’s first protected area in 1998 under the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan following successful flamingo breeding seasons. The reserve is the only location in the Arabian Peninsula where greater flamingos breed regularly.
During the winter months, the reserve hosts more than 4,000 greater flamingos, which usually breed during this period. A site of global importance, the reserve was the first site in Abu Dhabi to join the international Ramsar List of Wetlands. In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included Al Wathba on its worldwide Green List of protected areas and nature conservation areas.