![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NA5INY5K3FDQ7CNCZBNSITWGWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=afbfeb79ba9df9ceec9d3231406619a1ee7522367b79791ba233314d2fea4d4c&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton carries out ecology monitoring around Burj Al Arab and other hotels across the world
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ENJLGV33EFB27NJBKOOXAACCYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b174ab1a369f23c40d4326862fe4638a0e3091958df5b4c563a4cb7650d1640&width=400&height=225)
Barbara Lang-Lenton runs the turtle rehabilitation project at Jumeirah Al Naseem in Dubai. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DYD4O7GBRVDODE5YKBGDOAEJZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=89ad47e2680fcbf383fe84c5e6c78b1ae8cfe0c7f2e5c129c1ef3a2bc418f03d&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton transferring small turtles into the rehabilitation lagoons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DOJGHPYKAZHTHK2A36VXRHQLQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1f5af2ee9358032f9151f44665276e6f2dedb011061e16217f45b842de9af56&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton has dedicated her life to rescuing injured turtles from the UAE’s shores
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHPCIAVD5VEBXAG7ZZQBA6E6PQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e8a8675dd5a71bd346bae72a05fcc5f2cb5a46764c97e779ad9c51f98d02b09&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project was launched in 2004
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OMFRXNGHQRE3TP3URV4V77UJIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=55484fc62a104416a0d0e88b2c93275520424e9c9763829d6d9d7c718e3816a8&width=400&height=225)
More than 60 per cent of the turtles at the project are young hawksbills that are born in this part of the Gulf
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GBKP5EC42RGPHP63VHMAZSE4TA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a2f515ee12a6e3640a50935780f87d7cfdde7e73365f4c75c18b8878d9bec21&width=400&height=225)
The turtles build up their strength in the lagoons until the weather is suitable for their release back into the ocean
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NA5INY5K3FDQ7CNCZBNSITWGWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=afbfeb79ba9df9ceec9d3231406619a1ee7522367b79791ba233314d2fea4d4c&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton carries out ecology monitoring around Burj Al Arab and other hotels across the world
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ENJLGV33EFB27NJBKOOXAACCYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b174ab1a369f23c40d4326862fe4638a0e3091958df5b4c563a4cb7650d1640&width=400&height=225)
Barbara Lang-Lenton runs the turtle rehabilitation project at Jumeirah Al Naseem in Dubai. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DYD4O7GBRVDODE5YKBGDOAEJZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=89ad47e2680fcbf383fe84c5e6c78b1ae8cfe0c7f2e5c129c1ef3a2bc418f03d&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton transferring small turtles into the rehabilitation lagoons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DOJGHPYKAZHTHK2A36VXRHQLQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1f5af2ee9358032f9151f44665276e6f2dedb011061e16217f45b842de9af56&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton has dedicated her life to rescuing injured turtles from the UAE’s shores
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHPCIAVD5VEBXAG7ZZQBA6E6PQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e8a8675dd5a71bd346bae72a05fcc5f2cb5a46764c97e779ad9c51f98d02b09&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project was launched in 2004
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OMFRXNGHQRE3TP3URV4V77UJIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=55484fc62a104416a0d0e88b2c93275520424e9c9763829d6d9d7c718e3816a8&width=400&height=225)
More than 60 per cent of the turtles at the project are young hawksbills that are born in this part of the Gulf
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GBKP5EC42RGPHP63VHMAZSE4TA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a2f515ee12a6e3640a50935780f87d7cfdde7e73365f4c75c18b8878d9bec21&width=400&height=225)
The turtles build up their strength in the lagoons until the weather is suitable for their release back into the ocean
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NA5INY5K3FDQ7CNCZBNSITWGWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=afbfeb79ba9df9ceec9d3231406619a1ee7522367b79791ba233314d2fea4d4c&width=400&height=225)
Ms Lang-Lenton carries out ecology monitoring around Burj Al Arab and other hotels across the world
Working Wonders: Biologist’s 20-year mission to save turtles across the UAE
Barbara Lang-Lenton set up Dubai’s leading project to help the animals, with more than 2,000 rereleased into the wild
Emma Pearson
30 November, 2023
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