The release of 54 Scimitar-horned Oryx in North Africa by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and its partners is the latest step in the goal of having 500 of the beautiful beasts once again roaming wild and free.
Extinct in the wild since 2000, the agency has spearheaded a campaign to reintroduce the animals in their native habitat in Africa, and the initiative is, in part, down to the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.
Many of the animals in the Abu Dhabi-based herd that are being released in Chad are from his private collection.
“A number of animals of this species were given to the care of the agency from the collection of the late Sheikh Zayed, and that was the main inspiration for this reintroduction effort,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD's secretary-general.
It is believed that the last Scimitar disappeared from Chad in the late 1980s before the species was officially declared "extinct in the wild" globally by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 2000.
This latest release in the Ouadi Rime Ouadi Achim game reserve is the largest reintroduction since the launch of the initiative in 2014 and brings the number of animals in the wild up to 89.
The population has grown from just 16 calves last year and the EAD, along with partners the Chadian Ministry of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Sahara Conservation Fund, has the goal of achieving a wild, self-sustaining population of 500 animals in the game reserve, which was chosen as the location to provide the antelope species with an optimal habitat.
“We have a long way to go before achieving our target of 500 animals in the wild but our progress thus far is already exceeding expectations,” said Ms Al Mubarak.
“We have now had animals in the wild for over a year and they are showing every sign of not only adapting to but thriving in their new environment.
"The project's success is the result of the wonderful partnership and commitment from the Abu Dhabi Government and the Government of Chad. We also have numerous members of the world's conservation community to thank for their continued support.”
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Read more:
Chad's first oryx calf in 30 years
Oryx return to Chad, thanks to Abu Dhabi
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The animals selected for the reintroduction come from the 3,800-strong “world herd” that EAD has at its breeding facility in Delaija, Abu Dhabi, and the genetic diversity of the blood-stock has been increased with the addition of animals donated from a number of zoos and private collectors across the globe.
The UAE herd is the largest single population of the animals in the world.
They are carefully tested and prepared in Abu Dhabi for shipment to the pre-release facility, within the 78,000 square-kilometre protected area where they are released in Chad.
After the release, the wild herd’s daily movements are monitored with the aid of satellite collars by EAD and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Zoological Society of London, and they are protected by wildlife rangers supplied by the Chad government.
“Relocating logistics can be challenging as we are dealing with huge animals and the process is not easy, as they need to be moved to Al Ain Airport to be loaded onto a charter plane and off to Chad and unloaded again, but we are glad that they travel very well and many of them seem to enjoy it,” said Ms Al Mubarak.
This latest release into the wild is the third time animals have been flown over since last year and the plan is to relocate 100 more in winter 2017-2018.
“It has to be in the natural inhabitant of the animal to give them the best chance of survival, so we had to take them back home,” added Ms Al Mubarak.
“They breed very well and live to the age of 20. They are grazers, which means they don’t need to learn how to hunt.
“This is the largest mammal reintroduction project ever invented and we make sure that the animals are fully grown, perfectly ready, health and pose no threat to any animals in the wild.”
Ms Al Mubarak said that it was humans who made these fine animals extinct in the wild so it’s only right that we do what we can to get them back to where they belong.
“It’s a very big and beautiful animal that has wonderful switched back horns, which attracts trophy hunters and that was one of the reasons why they were extinct, along with hunting them for meat during civil wars, loss of habitat and lack of resources,” she said.
“These animals used to stretch from west Africa to Egypt and Sudan and we found that Chad has a big enough habitat that is being protected, while the Chad government is very committed and willing to keep the animals protected.”
The Scimitar-horned Oryx
Native to Central and Northern Africa, the historic range of the animal was right across the Sahel region of Africa, and they were known to migrate north into the Sahara during the wet season, when grass would grow in the desert.
It is a sociable animal that travels in herds of between two and 40 individuals, led by a dominant bull.
In 1936, a single herd of 10,000 Scimitar-horned oryx was seen in Chad, where by the 1970s was home to more than 95 per cent of its world population.
Females give birth after 8 to 9 months to a single calf weighing about 10kg. The calf has a yellow coat, so predators cannot spot them.
The coats change to the adult colour at between three to 12 months old, and this white coat helps to reflect the heat of the sun.
Adult males weigh 140 to 210kg and females 91 to 140kg.
The name Scimitar refers to its sword-shaped horns.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Command%20Z
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 20: 11am to 7pm - Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and Para jiu-jitsu.
Sunday, April 21: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (female) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Monday, April 22: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (male) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Tuesday, April 23: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Wednesday, April 24: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Thursday, April 25: 11am-5pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Friday, April 26: 3pm to 6pm Finals of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Saturday, April 27: 4pm and 8pm awards ceremony.
The%20specs
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The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series
Fixtures
Thursday, Nov 9 - 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 11 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Monday, Nov 13 – 2pm, Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, Nov 16 – 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 18 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
