DUBAI // A bird species that has been around for at least 1.8 million years is teetering on the brink of extinction, but a private wildlife park in the city is holding out a lifeline that might ensure the birds' survival.
The northern bald ibis is being bred on a man-made cliff at the Sheikh Butti bin Juma Al Maktoum Wildlife Centre in Dubai.
The species was once common across the Middle East, North Africa and much of Europe, and fossils have been found that date back 1.8 million years. However numbers declined catastrophically until only two populations remained: one associated with Syria and Turkey and one in southern Morocco.
The status of the bird in Syria is unclear, with some estimates suggesting that fewer than 10 survive in the wild. The birds in Dubai are descended from that line, and the hope is that it will eventually be possible to release some of those bred here into the wild to bolster the population.
"The population in Syria and Turkey is in the biggest danger," said the centre's manager, Alan Stephenson. "At this stage it's not clear whether they're actually a separate species to the ones in Morocco or not.
"From a conservation viewpoint, if you have a little breeding nucleus here it is a big advantage. We're breeding them successfully even though they don't usually breed easily in captivity. When it becomes viable to release them back into the wild, at least we'll have some birds to put back."
The success of a number of reintroduction programmes suggests this approach could work. Birds have been released in Spain, Austria and northern Morocco, while a semi-wild breeding colony has been established in the traditional range in Turkey.
The centre has three breeding pairs that this year reared three juveniles. The birds nest on the sides of cliffs, which is why the centre had to construct a rock wall specially for them.
The northern bald ibis is just one of many types of rare bird that are being bred at the centre. Others include the Eurasian griffon vulture, the kori bustard, the nicobar pigeon and the pygmy falcon.
The centre houses hundreds of species including giraffe, kangaroo, meerkat and cheetah. Sheikh Butti pioneered the captive breeding of cheetahs in the region, and is considering starting a similar programme for a native species he fears is under threat - the spiny-tailed lizard, known locally as the dhub.
"Sheikh Butti is very conservation-conscious and he is concerned that the dhub is being affected by low rainfall and maybe overgrazing by camel and sheep and things like that," Mr Stephenson said. "So he's feeding them out in the desert. He supplements the food supply, to ensure that the population is viable."
csimpson@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
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The%20specs
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
