Greater flamingos were successfully rehabilitated by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) in collaboration with the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre after being rescued from the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. This rescue operation followed heavy rains and hail showers caused by the Al-Mizr low pressure system that impacted the reserve. The Greater Flamingo species migrates to Abu Dhabi each year from breeding colonies in Central Asia, with many of them residing in key wetlands across the UAE.
During the winter and early summer breeding cycles at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, flamingos are expected to begin reproducing again, offsetting losses caused by the hailstorm. The reserve hosts over 4,000 greater flamingos each winter, with breeding activity peaking during this period. The 2023-2024 winter breeding season recorded 1,270 breeding pairs, indicating that the reserve is on track to recover losses without needing human intervention.
Established in 1998, the 4.5 square kilometre Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is Abu Dhabi’s first protected area and the only site in the Arabian Peninsula where greater flamingos breed regularly. Recognized for its global importance, the reserve was the first in Abu Dhabi to join the international Ramsar List of Wetlands and was included on the IUCN’s Green List of protected areas. The EAD has been monitoring terrestrial and marine bird species at the reserve since 2002, using satellite-tracking devices to monitor the movement and migration patterns of greater flamingos.
Following the hailstorm at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, the EAD immediately launched an emergency response to rescue injured birds. Seven newly hatched chicks and four eggs about to hatch were also rescued and provided with immediate care at the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre. Examinations and autopsies revealed serious injuries caused by the hailstones, and the unusual weather incident was attributed to the effects of climate change on biodiversity. The partnership with the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre is part of a larger mission to conserve and protect marine wildlife habitats across the region.
Robert Yordi, general curator of the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre, emphasized the importance of partnering with EAD to conserve marine wildlife habitats in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf. SeaWorld has a long history of rescuing marine animals and is one of the largest marine rescue organizations globally. The collaboration with EAD on this rescue operation highlights the commitment to supporting marine wildlife rescue efforts in the region and continuing conservation work in the future.
