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DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
- Qatar is giving nice consideration and energy to preserving wildlife in the area
- On World Animal Day, Qatar Tourism highlights six animals you didn’t know were in Qatar:
- Arabian Oryx – the nationwide animal
- Whale shark – world’s largest fish
- Dugong – solely vegetarian marine mammal
- Hawksbill turtle – critically endangered
- Flamingo – a vibrant migration
- Honey Badger – the world’s bravest animal
To rejoice World Animal Day, Qatar Tourism highlights six sudden animals for guests to see in the nation.
Despite its small dimension, Qatar is dwelling to an abundance of attention-grabbing land and aquatic creatures that make up the nation’s various ecosystem. Home to many nature reserves, the peninsula places nice emphasis on preserving and growing native wildlife to guard it from extinction.
Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, mentioned: “Visitors will probably be amazed by simply what number of attention-grabbing and distinctive animals there are right here. Qatar is dwelling to dolphins, falcons, sand cats, and the pink fox, amongst many extra. We are dwelling to a plethora of wonderful animals, birds, and implausible fauna, lots of that are indigenous – guests simply must know the place to search for them.”
Here is a listing of the six most sudden animals in Qatar and the place to search out them:
Arabian Oryx
With lengthy spear-like horns, the Arabian Oryx is considered one of 4 species of antelope that lives in Qatar’s desert and is native to the Arabian Peninsula. It can also be the nationwide animal of Qatar.
This majestic creature was on the verge of extinction, however after immense conservation measures taken by means of Operation Oryx, the animals were reintroduced into the wilderness in 1982.
Visitors can go to the Arabian Oryx at the Al-Maha sanctuary, additionally known as the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. They may also be seen at Al Sheehaniya Reserve — positioned 45 km to the west of Doha — and Al Mashabiya Reserve in south-west Qatar, at nation’s the oldest pure reserves.
Azzam Al Mannai, a Qatar-based wildlife photographer, says: “No image can do the Arabian Oryx justice. I’ve been photographing them for the final three years they usually at all times proceed to amaze. They will be discovered in many pure reserves round Qatar and are often known as ‘Al Wudhaihi’ attributable to their pure white color. A really lovely creature.”
Whale shark
These grand aquatic creatures, sometimes called ‘light giants’ have been endangered since 2002. As the largest fish in the world, they will develop as much as 20 metres lengthy, and sometimes migrate round the globe in search of tropical waters.
Qatar hosts considered one of the largest gatherings of whale sharks on the planet, showing from April to September off the northeast coast of the Al Shaheen restricted marine zone.
Brigadier General Mohamed Al Jaidah, the lead whale shark analysis scientist in Qatar, says: “As an endangered species, conservation and safety of the whale sharks is our primary precedence. We have been learning them extensively for the previous 11 years in Qatar making an attempt to know extra about them and their habitat.”
“Every yr lots of of majestic whale sharks congregate in Qatari waters to fine-dine on tuna eggs, basically a caviar. I’ve seen as much as 360 whale sharks directly. You see the fins, the tails, they’re going to be beneath the boat, swimming, subsequent to you, in all kinds of various places.”
Dugong
Known as the ‘sea cow’, these weak species are in decline and are labeled as weak to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Home to the second-largest inhabitants of dugongs globally, Qatar’s continued efforts to check and defend marine mammals resulted in a uncommon sighting of a bunch of 840 dugongs in 2020. Often seen to collect north of the peninsula’s shores between January and early March, these sea mammals will be discovered in giant herds, which isn’t widespread behaviour for this sea mammal.
Mehsin Al-Ansi Al-Yafei, Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences and dugong researcher, says: “What’s wonderful about the dugongs of Qatar is we have seen gatherings of over 800 in sooner or later over my previous two years of analysis. Something that hasn’t been seen anyplace else in the world. They feed on the seagrass and have been swimming round the Arabian Gulf for greater than 7,000 years. I’ve been learning marine life in Qatar since 2002 and am at all times amazed by the totally different creatures that decision this nation dwelling.”
Hawksbill turtle
The 560 km shoreline of Qatar is dwelling to considered one of the largest and most essential nesting habitats for the hawksbill sea turtle in the area. Critically endangered, they’re thought-about by many to be the most lovely of sea turtles for his or her vibrant shells.
As the hawksbill turtles are popularly recognized to go to Fuwairit seaside throughout their nesting season, the seaside undergoes a cleansing marketing campaign as a part of the turtle safety mission, earlier than the space is closed off to the public for the nesting season. Last yr was additionally the first time the public were allowed to witness the miracle of life throughout the hatching season, beneath the umbrella of Qatar Museums, in collaboration with the Wildlife and Protection Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
Flamingos
Hundreds of flamingos make the northern Qatari wetlands their dwelling for as much as six months as they migrate from Europe in search of hotter climates. They could also be noticed from the air throughout a flying tour of the Al Thakira Mangroves. BirdLife International, which goals to guard the habitats of migratory birds, works actively in Qatar to make sure it’s a hospitable atmosphere for these annual vibrant guests.
Honey Badger
Don’t be swayed by its dimension, the honey badger is considered one of the world’s hardest animals. It does not begin fights it could’t end, and it makes a powerful foe. It has additionally been recognized to tackle hyenas, leopards, lions, and pythons. Its scientific identify is ‘ratel’, however it’s commonly-called the honey badger since it’s recognized for taking up a full hive of bees to style its favorite snack. The animal also can flip round in its personal unfastened pores and skin to simply break away from predators, for a fast shock assault.
Sightings in Qatar have been reported from Zuwair, Ilham, and Al Haym southwest Al Shammal.
To discover out extra details about animals in Qatar please go to http://www.visitqatar.qa or obtain the app through the App Store or Google Play.
-Ends-
For media-related inquiries, please contact Qatar Tourism’s Press Office on:
+974 7774 7863 | [email protected]
About Qatar:
Qatar is a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Gulf in the coronary heart of the Middle East, with 80% of the earth’s inhabitants inside a six-hour flight. Ranked the most secure nation in the world in 2020 by Numbeo, Qatar welcomes all travellers, and company from over 85 nations can enter visa-free. Qatar has an incredible number of simply accessible vacationer points of interest, a plethora of fauna and flora together with Whale Sharks and the majestic nationwide animal the Arabian Oryx, and most experiences are a singular mixture of cultural authenticity and modernity. From iconic museums to high-rise eating places, from thrilling desert adventures to world-famous occasions together with none aside from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, there’s something for every type of travellers and budgets.
About Qatar Tourism:
Qatar Tourism is the official authorities physique accountable for the improvement and promotion of tourism in Qatar, facilitating the sector’s exponential progress. Qatar is a vacation spot the place individuals of the world come collectively to expertise distinctive choices in arts, tradition, sports activities, and journey, catering to household and enterprise guests, rooted in Service Excellence. Qatar Tourism seeks to spice up the complete tourism worth chain, develop native and worldwide customer demand, appeal to inward funding, and drive a multiplier impact throughout the home financial system. The Qatar Tourism Strategy 2030 units an bold goal to draw over six million worldwide guests a yr by 2030, making Qatar the quickest rising vacation spot in the Middle East.
Web: www.visitqatar.qa
Twitter: @Go toQatar
Instagram: @Go toQatar
Related Images
Image 1: Qatar Tourism / Azzam Al Mannai
Image 2: Qatar Tourism / Mehsin Al-Ansi Al-Yafei
Image 3: Qatar Tourism
This content material was issued by means of the press launch distribution service at Newswire.com.
- Qatar Tourism / Azzam Al Mannai
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