The Arabian oryx, the largest land mammal native to the Arabian peninsula, has adapted to the harsh desert terrain in fascinating ways.
It can detect rainfall and fresh plant growth from up to 90km, for example, and it has a circulation system in its head that helps it stay cool, according to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.
Despite these protective biological responses, the desert antelope, also known as the white oryx, was hunted to the verge of extinction by the 1970s, when it was declared extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was prized for its meat and hide, and habitat loss due to construction and development made survival difficult.
When that happened, UAE Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a well-known lover of animals and nature, launched conservation efforts that have since brought this species back to life.
President Sheikh Mohamed introduced the Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme in 2007, helping it to become the first animal to revert to vulnerable status after previously being listed as extinct in the wild.
Today, the UAE is home to the largest population of Arabian oryx in the world, with more than 10,000 animals living predominantly around protected areas in Abu Dhabi.
This is only one – and possibly the most famous – of the UAE’s success stories in wildlife repopulation, as hundreds of people across the country continue to work tirelessly to protect the environment, not only on the ground, but also further afield.
Large-mammal reintroduction
Most recently, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, which was established in 1996 by a small group of ecologists passionate about continuing Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, launched one of the world’s biggest large-mammal reintroduction programmes in Chad.
The agency’s team released for the first time six Dama gazelles into the Ouadi Rime – Ouadi Achim Wildlife Reserve this year.
The Dama gazelle is classified by the IUCN as critically endangered, with only about 100 animals remaining in the wild in Chad and Niger.
It is on the verge of extinction and the agency's efforts aim to preserve and increase wild herd numbers in its natural habitats, in collaboration with Sahara Conservation, the Zoological Society of London, and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
The project began in 2019 with a captive breeding programme, when five wild gazelles were captured in the Manga region and other areas of the wildlife reserve in Chad.
They were then transported to enclosures for breeding, where they were kept with other Dama gazelles from the agency’s wildlife conservation centres in the UAE and central Africa.
Those that were released in May are from two groups: one wild and the other bred in captivity. Three are equipped with satellite tracking devices, so the team can monitor the animals’ progress in the reserve, which is now home to about 50 gazelles.
“The post-release monitoring of gazelles will help us provide detailed information about the reproduction and mortality rates of these animals,” explained Ahmed Al Hashmi, executive director of the terrestrial and marine biodiversity sector at the environment agency.
“It also provides a unique opportunity to closely monitor wild Dama gazelles and to identify factors that limit their reproduction.
“This, in turn, will support this gazelle species in the long term.”
The story of the scimitar-horned oryx
The Dama gazelle project follows the successful reintroduction programmes for the scimitar-horned oryx, also known as the Sahara oryx, and the addax antelope in Chad.
The scimitar-horned oryx was once widespread across North Africa, but in 2000 was declared extinct in the wild, primarily because of poaching.
Fourteen years later, a reintroduction programme founded under the directive of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra region and chairman of the board of directors of the agency, was launched and in 2016 the first shipment of animals was released back into the wild.
We realised that once we were successful within the UAE, then we should go beyond its borders
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri,
secretary general of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
The following year, a herd of 75 animals arrived at the Ouadi Rime – Ouadi Achim Wildlife Reserve, in collaboration with the Chad Ministry of Environment and Fisheries, and the Sahara Conservation Fund.
Since then, the agency has been able to increase herd numbers to more than 630, exceeding the original target of 500, with the species downgraded to endangered by the IUCN in December.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, secretary general of agency, said the reclassification was a significant conservation milestone, but also beneficial to the community through capacity building, raising awareness and the hiring of local people.
“[It is] not the end of our collective efforts,” she said at the time.
“One of the elements that contributed to our success was the experience we gained from our successful reintroduction programme of the Arabian oryx in Abu Dhabi.
"We realised that once we were successful within the UAE, then we should go beyond its borders.”
The challenges of repopulation
Mr Al Hashmi said reintroducing species is a delicate balancing act that is rife with challenges.
“People believe if you have an animal and you want to introduce it, it’s very easy,” he told The National.
“But it requires a huge [amount of] science, information and experience.”
It was thanks to the foresight of Sheikh Zayed that they were even able to get these projects off the ground in the first place, Mr Al Hashmi said, as the agency inherited the late leader’s collection of animals.
“He used to have this collection because during his travels he saw many animals, like the scimitar-horned oryx, being poached severely. He had a small population, and he said 'with the current scenario, these animals will soon no longer exist'" said Mr Al Hashmi.
“So, what we did was we reproduced those animals together, but it’s not easy to do, because after 30 years in captivity, those animals are so vulnerable and their behaviour is changed and their body will be so weak, so you need genetic diversity.”
The agency worked with international partners in Europe and the US to import animals and cross-breed them until it could assure high genetic diversity and know the animal was ready for release.
“We kept testing [scimitar-horned oryx] behaviour in Abu Dhabi and then we built another enclosure area in Chad, just to ensure those animals will learn how to feed.”
A whole ecosystem
Location is key to these repopulation efforts, as, if the wrong place is chosen to release captive-bred animals, they will not survive. The conservation teams must also replant suitable vegetation for food and shelter.
All of this requires collaborative efforts, Mr Al Hashmi emphasised.
It takes several countries working together to ensure a sustainable repopulation programme. Oman and Jordan have been heavily involved in the agency’s efforts to boost Arabian oryx populations, for example.
"We want to assure this animal is back everywhere … then we will have a great international story," he said.
Moving forward, the agency plans to keep focusing on its repopulation efforts and it is hoping the Arabian oryx will soon be relisted by the IUCN as “least concern”.
But Mr Al Hashmi couldn’t put a timeframe on when this might happen.
“The difficult part with nature is to set very specific goals, because you don't control the ecosystem," he said.
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
- Make sure you have plenty of water
- Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
- Take your litter home with you
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Ad Astra
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Results
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m | Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Shamkhah, Royston Ffrench, Sandeep Jadhav
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m | Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m | Winner: Kawasir, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m | Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m | Winner: Quartier Francais, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Jawan
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
Bahrain%20GP
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI