The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, has successfully rehabilitated 10 greater flamingos rescued at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve during February, when heavy rains and exceptionally large hail showers, influenced by the Al-Mizr low pressure, greatly affected the reserve.

Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, said: “The agency's rangers in the reserve were monitoring the greater flamingo population across the reserve’s wetlands from the storm’s early hours. It became obvious that hailstones had injured many birds and so EAD immediately activated an emergency response, assigning four teams to rescue the injured birds, and transport them to The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center for treatment and rehabilitation.

“The teams also succeeded in rescuing seven newly hatched chicks, aged between one to three days, which were also provided with immediate care at the center. In addition, four eggs that were about to hatch were rescued to ensure that the chicks remained under the center’s care and supervision. Examinations and autopsies of the birds were done in coordination with The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center, revealing serious injuries due to hailstones.”

He emphasised that the weather incident was a rare natural phenomenon that has never been recorded before in the UAE. Globally, it is also considered a rare occurrence. The storm resulted in the loss of several flamingos due to the heavy hail and the effect of climate change on biodiversity.

“These events prove the readiness of the EAD and its partners to respond instantly and contain any crisis. We proudly expand our efforts in saving wildlife by collaborating with our partners and together with The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center we were able to successfully return the saved flamingos back to their habitats.”

Robert Yordi, General Curator of The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, said: “In the wake of the challenging weather conditions faced by a flock of greater flamingos in Abu Dhabi, The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center was pleased to collaborate with the EAD as part of this successful rescue operation. The storm had left these magnificent birds in bad condition and our team of animal rescue experts and veterinarians worked diligently to rescue, transport and care for the flock in order to ensure a safe return of the birds that survived to their natural habitat.

“Partnering with EAD on this rescue operation is part of our larger mission to conserve and protect the marine wildlife habitats and ecosystems across the UAE and the Arabian Gulf. For nearly 60 years, SeaWorld has rescued over 41,000 animals and is one of the largest marine rescue organisations in the world. We look forward to continuing to support marine wildlife rescue work across the region in the future.”

It is expected that the 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 the reserve is therefore expected to recover the losses from the 2023-2024 nesting season without the need for any human intervention.

The EAD has been monitoring both terrestrial and marine bird species at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve since 2002. Since 2005, the EAD 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 UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, following several 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.