Public urged to report dolphin sightings for new UAE study


Kelly Clarke
  • English
  • Arabic

Off the coast of Dubai, a team of scientists have launched a boat-based survey to gather data about the local dolphin population in the emirate.

The year-long project aims to assess the different species in the water, as well as population structure and trends.

Led by Dr Ada Natoli, assistant professor at the College of Natural and Health Science at Zayed University, researchers will span 1,000 km2 of Dubai coastal waters.

So far, the Dubai Dolphin Survey 2021-22 has recorded several species swimming below the water’s surface including four sightings of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and two sightings of the rare and elusive Indo-Pacific finless porpoise.

We are also rebooting the 'report a sighting' citizen campaign, to encourage the public to report sightings of whales and dolphins

The team is also calling on the help of the public to collect vital data on the aquatic mammals.

“To compliment the boat survey, we are also rebooting the ‘Report a Sighting’ citizen science campaign, to encourage the public and people who operate vessels to report sightings of whales and dolphins,” said Dr Natoli who is also the founder and director of UAE Dolphin Project.

“We will host a series of public virtual awareness sessions to ensure people are collecting the right information and reporting it, which will most certainly increase our understanding of these animals in our waters.”

Sightings of whales and dolphins can be reported on the UAE Dolphin Project website (www.uaedolphinproject.org) Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp or by email at sighting@uaedolphinproject.org.

This latest project, supported by Atlantis The Palm and F3 Marine, is the first survey of its kind conducted in the area in eight years.

Dolphins swim off the coast of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. Antonie Robertson / The National
Dolphins swim off the coast of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. Antonie Robertson / The National

The last survey recorded numerous sightings of dolphins which are listed as “threatened” on the the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.

For the 2013/2014 mission, scientists spotted regular pods of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, the Indian Ocean Humpback dolphin, and one porpoise, the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise.

Using photos of dolphin’s dorsal fins, the team completed a photo-identification catalogue of individuals.

For this latest project, which was launched four weeks ago, the team will try to identify individuals from the previous survey and gather a more precise idea of the residency and population size of dolphins along Dubai’s coast.

Professor Fares Howari, dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Zayed University, said whales and dolphins play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem.

"Being at the top of the marine food chain, together with other species such as sharks and top marine predators, they are ecological Indicators of the status of the sea," he said.

"The current project will boost marine science and marine biology research lines at ZU.

"The project will provide accurate information on dolphin population and their distribution in the Gulf."

Dolphins are no stranger to UAE waters. With several animal conservation agencies working to protect marine mammals in the country, organisations regularly post videos of dolphin pods spotted off the coast of Fujairah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

In June last year, a pod of humpback dolphins were spotted in shallow waters on Saadiyat Island.

The group were seen swimming close to the shore in a video shared on the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi’s Twitter feed.

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  • Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
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The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

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However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

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Huddersfield Town permanent signings:

  • Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
  • Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
  • Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
  • Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
  • Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
  • Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
  • Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
  • Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
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