DUBAI // Residents are being asked to help build a dolphin database by reporting any sightings.
The UAE Dolphin Project aims to provide scientific details about the population size and movement of wild dolphins.
“The target is to involve everyone – scientists and the general public,” said Ada Natoli, the project director and conservation genetic researcher at the non-profit initiative. “Once you set up a scientific study, then you start to understand if a population is resident, transitory, here for only one season or migratory.
“It is probable the three most frequently reported species are resident here, as they are in other parts of the world where they are studied.”
Those species are the Indo-Pacific bottlenose, the Indo-Pacific humpback and the rare finless porpoise.
The project's website, which can be found at www.uaedolphinproject.org, is racking up hits already, with four sightings last week and 100 since its launch in December.
There have been other efforts to study dolphins along the UAE coast, but this is the first project to gather data on all pods that hunt and swim in the Arabian Gulf.
“It’s important to document biodiversity in the UAE,” said Rima Jabado, a UAE-based marine biologist. “There has been some information before but there hasn’t been a dedicated project like this.
“Even as a researcher, you can’t be in every location every day. But if you involve people in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, RAK and Fujairah who go out fishing or for recreation, you get a better picture of the whole coastline.”
People can report their sightings of dolphins using Facebook, Twitter, email or text messages.
“It’s a matter of awareness,” said Ms Natoli, an adjunct assistant professor in the biology department of the United Arab Emirates University. “People now don’t look for them but once they know dolphins can be seen, they will keep an eye open.
“That’s why I’m trying to push for public awareness.”
The project has also provided tips and advice on how to safely and humanely interact with the creatures (see factbox, left).
“There are clear rules people should follow, like refrain from touching, swimming or feeding wild dolphins,” Ms Natoli said.
"As fantastic as dolphins are, it's important to remember they weigh 300 kilograms and have a lot of teeth, so people must stay safe because it's not a small animal."
rtalwar@thenational.ae
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
%3Cp%3EVara%20will%20cater%20to%20three%20categories%20of%20companies%20in%20Dubai%20(except%20the%20DIFC)%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20A%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Minimum%20viable%20product%20(MVP)%20applicants%20that%20are%20currently%20in%20the%20process%20of%20securing%20an%20MVP%20licence%3A%20This%20is%20a%20three-stage%20process%20starting%20with%20%5B1%5D%20a%20provisional%20permit%2C%20graduating%20to%20%5B2%5D%20preparatory%20licence%20and%20concluding%20with%20%5B3%5D%20operational%20licence.%20Applicants%20that%20are%20already%20in%20the%20MVP%20process%20will%20be%20advised%20by%20Vara%20to%20either%20continue%20within%20the%20MVP%20framework%20or%20be%20transitioned%20to%20the%20full%20market%20product%20licensing%20process.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20B%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Existing%20legacy%20virtual%20asset%20service%20providers%20prior%20to%20February%207%2C%202023%2C%20which%20are%20required%20to%20come%20under%20Vara%20supervision.%20All%20operating%20service%20proviers%20in%20Dubai%20(excluding%20the%20DIFC)%20fall%20under%20Vara%E2%80%99s%20supervision.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20C%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20New%20applicants%20seeking%20a%20Vara%20licence%20or%20existing%20applicants%20adding%20new%20activities.%20All%20applicants%20that%20do%20not%20fall%20under%20Category%20A%20or%20B%20can%20begin%20the%20application%20process%20through%20their%20current%20or%20prospective%20commercial%20licensor%20%E2%80%94%20the%20DET%20or%20Free%20Zone%20Authority%20%E2%80%94%20or%20directly%20through%20Vara%20in%20the%20instance%20that%20they%20have%20yet%20to%20determine%20the%20commercial%20operating%20zone%20in%20Dubai.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
