By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment celebrated World Turtle Day at Al Faisal Social Responsibility Center headquarters yesterday, under the theme ‘Sea turtles and efforts to protect them’.
The annual event observed on May 23, was attended by directors of several departments at the Ministry, residents and students from Al Hekma International School.
Khalaf Ajlan Al Anzi, Director, Public Relations Department, said through this occasion, Qatar shows keenness to maintain environmental heritage and protect natural resources, especially sea turtles.
Mohsin Abdullah Al Yafei, former director of Environmental Studies Centre at Qatar University, said turtles have been present in Qatar for a long time and stressed that these species are endangered.
He said Qatar has three types of sea turtles, and all have environmental and economic importance.
Waste left on the beach and the noise created by visitors drive the turtles away from the beach and the animals are forced to have nesting sites in unsuitable conditions, said Al Yafei.
The Ministry is exerting efforts by closing temporary turtle nests areas to the public, transferring some nests to proper places and monitoring them and increasing awareness about their importance.
Al Yafei said there is a large number of turtle nests in Halul Island and a small number in Shiraouh Island.
In its efforts to save threatened sea turtles, Qatar has launched ‘Save Turtles’, an initiative in collaboration with the Ministry, Qatar University and Qatar Petroleum to implement projects and programmes to save turtle.
The Peninsula
