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GULF NEWS (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) 03 June 05 Operation save lizards under way (Nissar Hoath)
Photo at URL: Students from Zayed University join the operation to save agamids at Abu Dhabi airport expansion site. (Ravindranath/Gulf News)
Abu Dhabi: A major wildlife rescue operation is under way on the site of the planned second runway for Abu Dhabi's International Airport.
The operation is to save a large number of spiny-tailed agamids or dhubs as they are locally known.
According to the Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (Scadia), about 200 dhubs, known as Uromastyx microlepis aegyptia, live at the site.
The project is being carried out in association with Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (Erwda).
"This is the first time ever that a translocation programme has been undertaken for an indigenous species in the UAE, prior to the beginning of a development project," said Khalifa Al Mazroui, the Chairman of Scadia.
The dhubs, a lizard that can grow up to 85 centimetres long and eats desert vegetation, are believed to be under threat because of the development of many areas in which they live, particularly near Abu Dhabi.
It is protected by law in the UAE, and trade in the species is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna.
The Save the Dhubs project has been welcomed by Erwda Secretary-General Majid Al Mansouri.
Commenting on the rescue project, Al Mansouri said: "Erwda has identified this species as being of special concern, and we are fully behind this initiative."
"Over the weekend, over 50 people Zayed University students, members of several non-governmental organisations from both Abu Dhabi and Al Ain turned out to participate in the trapping programme," said a statement from Scadia.
The trapped reptiles were handed over to a team from Sharjah's Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, which will provide the dhubs with a temporary home until preparations are made to release them back into suitable desert locations.
Operation save lizards under way

>>GULF NEWS (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) 03 June 05 Operation save lizards under way (Nissar Hoath)
>> Photo at URL: Students from Zayed University join the operation to save agamids at Abu Dhabi airport expansion site. (Ravindranath/Gulf News)
>>Abu Dhabi: A major wildlife rescue operation is under way on the site of the planned second runway for Abu Dhabi's International Airport.
>>The operation is to save a large number of spiny-tailed agamids or dhubs as they are locally known.
>>According to the Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (Scadia), about 200 dhubs, known as Uromastyx microlepis aegyptia, live at the site.
>>The project is being carried out in association with Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (Erwda).
>>"This is the first time ever that a translocation programme has been undertaken for an indigenous species in the UAE, prior to the beginning of a development project," said Khalifa Al Mazroui, the Chairman of Scadia.
>>The dhubs, a lizard that can grow up to 85 centimetres long and eats desert vegetation, are believed to be under threat because of the development of many areas in which they live, particularly near Abu Dhabi.
>>It is protected by law in the UAE, and trade in the species is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna.
>>The Save the Dhubs project has been welcomed by Erwda Secretary-General Majid Al Mansouri.
>>Commenting on the rescue project, Al Mansouri said: "Erwda has identified this species as being of special concern, and we are fully behind this initiative."
>>"Over the weekend, over 50 people Zayed University students, members of several non-governmental organisations from both Abu Dhabi and Al Ain turned out to participate in the trapping programme," said a statement from Scadia.
>>The trapped reptiles were handed over to a team from Sharjah's Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, which will provide the dhubs with a temporary home until preparations are made to release them back into suitable desert locations.
>>Operation save lizards under way