Endangered hawksbill turtles at Dubai Aquarium

Five critically endangered juvenile hawksbill turtles are being exhibited this month at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall to highlight threats faced by the species.

The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) partnered with the aquarium for the exhibition, which aims to educate visitors about the turtle’s habitat and global conservation efforts in the fight against extinction.

After a 90-day rehabilitation period, the turtles will be fitted with satellite trackers and released into the Arabian Gulf, said Warren Baverstock, aquarium operations manager.

Once released, their movements can be monitored on Facebook, he said.

The turtles were rescued off the coast by the DTRP.

More than 780 sea turtles have been successfully returned to sea over the past 10 years since the project’s inception.