Animal rescue takes priority

A global animal welfare group says it is working with officials across the UAE to strengthen rescue strategies when wild and domestic animals find themselves in harm's way.

From abandoned pets left behind by absentee expats to beach strandings by wild marine mammals, the International Fund for Animal Welare (IFAW) said it is working under the vestiges of its animal rescue programme with officials to take a more coordinated approach to saving animals in dire need of assistance.

Under the direction of IFAW President and Chief Executive Officer Azzidine Downes, the organisation opened its regional office in Dubai in 2008 and has been working alongside officials and other eco groups to bring a higher standard of conservation and animal welfare in the UAE since.

According to Downes, officials from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Al Ain are meeting with IFAW officials to build stronger strategy plans to counter incidents of animal abuse and smuggling of endangered animals through the country.

The group has been involved in strong UAE measures to curb smuggling of elephant ivory tusks from Africa through the UAE to foreign destinations as well as helping raise awareness of shark finning practises that have dropped markedly in the region since China took stricter measures to block consumption of the fins in high-end soups.

In interview from Boston, US, with Gulf News, Downes said when natural tragedies strike, emergency responders don't factor in animals as part of rescue plans.

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, victims stranded in rooftops of flooded homes refused to be rescued by emergency crews if their animals were not allowed to accompany them.

Similarly, in Pakistan following earthquakes, residents who needed to be evacuated would not leave their domesticated herds because the animals were their livelihood, said Downes.

"A number of municipalities in the UAE said they hadn't thought of this in their emergency plans,” Downes said, adding his team is looking to "help them with their response plans.”

A number of expatriates living in the UAE have pets such as dogs and cats.

"What happens if there is a power outage in high-rises and you have to get out? A lot of people have dogs. It's a whole level of planning that hasn't been thought about,” he said.

On the marine front, increasing human activity along the UAE coastline in addition to natural calamities are taking their toll on sea creatures who end up beached in ill condition.

"It seems it is on the rise because a lot more eyes are on the marine environment,” he said.

Ensuring there are proper animal rescue plans in place are crucial to save marine mammals such as dolphins, dugongs and reptiles such as the endangered Hawksbill Turtle.

In the last few years, several incidents involving animals have required intervention due to injuries caused by boat propeller strikes or sickness due to barnacles or algae infesting their bodies. When the animals wash up on beaches, they need immediate care. – Gulf News
Source: Gulf News