carpet sharks

UAE frees carpet sharks and stingrays into the wild

Two dozen carpet sharks and three stingrays were successfully released into the Arabian Sea on Thursday. The endangered species were released as part of efforts by the Atlantis Atlas Project and Dubai Municipality to support the local marine ecosystem. The animals, aged between eight and 10 months, were bred at the Atlantis resort complex, where their health and readiness to return to their natural environment were carefully assessed.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the carpet shark is classified as threatened and the stingray as an endangered species. Kelly Timmins, executive director of marine animal operations and sustainability at Atlantis Dubai, said resort staff encourage the animals in their care to breed to promote their growth and health.

‘It’s nothing artificial. Part of maintaining the welfare of the animals is to enable them to behave as they normally do in the wild and breeding is one of those natural functions,’ she said.

The animals were transported using large pick-up trucks equipped with oxygen and water tanks to ensure optimal conditions. ‘Upon arrival, the team monitored the sharks and rays to make sure they were all healthy,’ added Freisha Patel, conservation manager at Atlantis Dubai.

The Atlantis Atlas Project, which focuses on sustainable tourism, also held a beach clean-up event supported by Dubai Municipality, whose members were also present at the event. Since launching its marine life conservation efforts in 2019, Atlantis has released a total of 58 sharks and 10 rays, including 20 sharks and three rays released on Thursday.

Source: Khaleej Times