Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 146, February 2017, pp. 1-25. | Page 2
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Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, (Arabic: رأس الخور in Dubai, United Arab
)
Emirates, is a wetland reserve renowned for attracting migratory birds in large
numbers. The wetlands have large numbers of birds, crustaceans, small
mammals and fish (Wikipedia).
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by the Marine Environment and
Wildlife Section at the Environment Department, Dubai Municipality,
Government of Dubai, and is officially a Ramsar site, which is under the
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl
Habitat, since 2007.
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary represents an enclave of relative wilderness
amidst swirling traffic and sprawling urban infrastructure. Located just as the
name in Arabic suggests - at the ―Cape of the Creek‖, it is among the few urban
protected areas of the world (Wikipedia).
The Dubai Municipality has taken great efforts to protect and preserve the
biodiversity of this delicate ecosystem. The wetland has been fenced off from the
public and two accessible birding hides (platforms) have been built. The bird
hides are a first step towards development of more elaborate visitor education
facilities in the protected area. WWF UAE Project Office collaborated with Dubai
Municipality's Environment Department, in setting up the facilities that were
sponsored by the National Bank of Dubai (Wikipedia).
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary sign in Dubai, UAE. Photo by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf-von
Jaffa. 13.06.2015. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/18954259156/
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 146 – February 2017