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Dubai: In the cooler hours of the morning, Dubai British School, alongside with guests of Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel gathered along the sandy shores of the iconic sail-shaped hotel to witness the release of approximately 150 rehabilitated turtles.
The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, in conjunction with the Wild Life Protection Office and Jumeirah group, organised the event on Thursday morning to mark World Sea Turtle Day on June 16.
"The main goal of it is to rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles and release them back into the wild. Also, in our care, use them for educational purposes," Warren Baverstock, operations manager at the Burj Al Arab aquarium and the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, told Zawya.
"The reason why we have invited children is because it's part of our educational goal. Exposure to the sea turtles is hugely important to all ages but obviously young children's minds are absorbent and they can be inspired by events like this."
The event saw satellite tags attached to six turtles, five sponsored by Dubai Aquarium and the other purchased by Burj Al Arab Aquarium, plus the release of 150 Hawksbill turtles.
"Today we released three types of turtles. The loggerhead turtle, which is the big one with a satellite tag on, green turtles and hawksbill turtles."
The project has been running in its current form since 2004 and has so far seen the release of over 560 rescued sea turtles back into Dubai's waters.
"Today is world sea turtle day, an important day, since we rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles it's essential that we celebrate today." Turtles are released throughout the year and, according to Warren, "this is our third release this year and we have another one after the summer."
© Zawya 2016
