VIDEO: Abu Dhabi relocates trapped 6-metre whale shark to Arabian Gulf
- 06 Dec 2020
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
The successful joint rescue mission between The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and The National Aquarium (TNA) relocated a trapped whale shark back to open sea in the Arabian Gulf.
The 6-metre shark was noticed circling inside a man-made lagoon in the Al Bahiyah area.
After close monitoring by EAD’s scientists said that it was clear that the animal was trapped and unable to feed or avoid unwanted human interactions.
After the assessment, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi initiated the rescue mission, supported by the National Aquarium team’s expertise and equipment.
Using a soft plastic through-water transport bag developed specifically by The National Aquarium, the team of divers carefully captured the animal under EAD supervision.
The 1st of its kind transport bag was able to move through water faster than the shark’s normal swimming speed. Jet ski operators from Abu Dhabi Marine Club towed the transport bag carefully for 20km out into the Arabian Gulf whilst rescue team monitored its vital signs by staging divers along the shark’s path.
Before the release, a satellite tag provided by King Fahd University in Saudi Arabia was fitted.
In the 1st five days after the release, the animal travelled 232km into the Arabian Gulf, which is a good indication of a healthy shark.
The whale shark is now being continuously tracked as it makes its way to join other whale sharks in the Arabian Gulf migration.
EAD called on the community to report injured wildlife or environmental emergencies, through the Abu Dhabi Government Contact Centre at 800555.
