One of Abu Dhabi’s largest wetlands will reopen to the public from Friday after being closed for months because of the pandemic.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, known for its large population of greater flamingos, will receive visitors from 8am to 6pm until April 30. It will open daily except on Sundays and Mondays.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi said visitors will be expected to follow Covid-19 safety measures, such as wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing and following any other guidance issued inside the reserve.
To gain entry, visitors must also present a negative PCR test result received within the past month.
Children under 12 will not require a test result to enter the reserve.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is one of the first natural reserves to be established in Abu Dhabi. It was officially declared a protected area in 1998 by the UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed after proving an ideal habitat for migratory birds and a significant breeding site for the greater flamingo.
The reserve is home to more than 260 migratory bird species, including as many as 4,000 greater flamingos, as well as about 230 species of invertebrates, 11 mammals, 10 reptiles and 35 species of plant.
Since it opened to the public in October 2014, Al Wathba has attracted more than 20,000 visitors. Many are bird watchers, photography enthusiasts and others seeking to learn about the important species found in the reserve.
The reserve’s designated walking trails, of 1.5 and three kilometres, allow visitors to closely observe its natural habitats and wildlife. The reserve has a visitor centre, bird hide and a viewing platform.
Visitors can expect to encounter species including the black fat-tailed scorpion, greater spotted eagle, red fox, Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard, desert monitor lizard, Cape desert hare and purple-blushed darter, a winged insect.
The reserve is the only site in the Arabian Gulf region where flamingos have bred regularly since 2011. EAD researchers discovered three species of invertebrate new to science in the reserve, including a gasteruptiid wasp and a type of cuckoo wasp.
The reserve was recognised in the 2013 as a Ramsar site – one designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention established by Unesco.
It was also the first place in the region to be added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature green list in 2018, joining 40 such sites around the world.
