The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) is an initiative that aims to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sea turtles that are injured or sick in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The project was established in 2004 as a joint initiative of the Dubai's Wildlife Protection Office and the Jumeirah Group, a hospitality company in the UAE.
The DTRP operates a turtle rehabilitation center in Dubai that provides medical care and treatment for sick and injured sea turtles. The center is equipped with a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, a surgical suite, and a pool complex for the rehabilitation and care of the turtles.
The DTRP also conducts public education programs and awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of sea turtles and the threats they face in the wild. These programs aim to promote conservation and raise awareness about the impact of human activities on the marine environment.
Once the turtles have been rehabilitated, the DTRP releases them back into the wild. The project has released over 2,000 sea turtles back into the ocean since its inception, helping to preserve the population of these endangered animals.
The DTRP has been successful in raising awareness of sea turtle conservation in the UAE and has become a model for other turtle rehabilitation projects around the world. The project has also won several awards for its conservation efforts and its commitment to protecting endangered species.
Photography: Walter Somers
