[Source: UAE Interact ]

The stunningly beautiful Al Wathba Natural Reserve in Abu Dhabi has a very unique and unbelievable story of its formation. Just an ordinary water body until a couple of decades ago, it evolved into a prominent natural habitat by sheer coincidence. By the turn of the century, what was a little known pond in the wilderness of desert until 1980s, turned into a serene oasis. The reserve gradually became home to a magnificent mix of natural species, catching the curious eyes of the experts. 

Many factors came into play, leading to the formation of Al Wathba Natural Reserve. In 1982, huge quantities of water resulting from the treatment of sewage at the nearby Al Mafraq were pumped at the location. In the meantime, there was a rise in the level of ground water, especially during the winter, thus a lake was formed. The water body soon began to attract various birds and animals. Flamingos were first spotted nesting at the reserve, and rest followed suit. Thus, Al Wathba Natural Reserve was declared. 

This was the first such occurrence in the UAE and only second in the Gulf.
The total area of Al Wathba Natural Reserve is estimated at five square kilometres. It consists of a number of natural and artificial lakes. It is some 40 kilometres south east of Abu Dhabi city. The nesting of the flamingos was discovered at that location between 1993 and 1994, according to Khaldoun Kiwan, media representative at the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency. 

"It was the first time that flamingos nested in the UAE and second time on the level of the Arabian Gulf region. Flamingos nested in Kuwait in the early twenties of last century. 

Accordingly, Al Wathba Lake was declared a natural reserve in July 1998, upon the orders of late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahian. Measures were taken to provide complete protection for migrating birds in the region. The place became an attraction for different kinds of migrating birds, where they built their nests freely without any human interference. Al Wathba soon became a haven for more than 230 species of birds. The figure is almost half the number of all birds registered nationwide. Most of these birds depend on the lake in their living, as the lake almost covered one third of the total area of the reserve," he noted. 

Al Wathba was internationally accredited in 1999, said Kiwan, pointing out that flamingos were living in AL Wathba in groups, each consisting of 100 birds. 

"For the main aim of protecting the flamingos, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency had launched a project for the satellite tracking of the flamingos, so as to track their migration paths, biological properties as well as feeding and reproduction habits. Within the context of the project, satellite-operated tracking devices have been fixed in the bodies of four flamingo birds and then they were let loose. Primary observation data showed that one of those birds has reached Iran after leaving Abu Dhabi on Feb.28 2006, starting his trip by heading first to Ras Al Khor Natural Reserve in Dubai then stopping for a short period of time on the coastal line of Ras Al Khaimah, before taking off to Iran. The rest of the birds did the same," he explained. 

Rashed Al Mansoury, reserves inspector at the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, said that the public are not yet allowed to visit Al Wathba, except in very rare occasions. "Only researchers, journalists and media men are allowed to visit the place. Preparations are currently underway to permit small groups of visitors, not exceeding 20 persons, to visit the natural reserve, so as to avoid causing any disturbance to the natural life and breeding of the birds and other creatures living in the reserve. A building for visitors has already been established, including a number of laboratories, educational halls, a cafeteria and a number of walking corridors that would allow the visitors to have a good view of the whole place. 

Visitors would also be given the chance to view the variety of plants at that marvellous spot. The plants exceed 40 different kinds. 

There are fixed signs placed near every kind of plant, on which the needed details and data are written, for the main aim of increasing the environmental knowledge of the visitors," he said.
Regarding his own role in protecting Al Wathba Natural Reserve, Mansoury explained that his main responsibility is providing safety for the reserve and all its inhabitants. "I am always present to provide help for the visitors and for collecting the samples of the different kinds of plants as well as samples of water for the regular analysis and examination. We have also launched various programs to monitor the different kinds of birds breeding in Al Wathba once every two weeks. We are also carrying out studies on the different biological and non-biological elements affecting the lakes," he added. 

Mansoury explained that AL Wathba is considered a wonderful model for development. "Life in Al Wathba is actually a mixture of natural and artificial interaction. The presence of the trucks road just beside Al Wathba, which is quite high, has lead to the storage and accordingly the increase in the level of ground water in the region. Accordingly, the lakes were formed and soon became an attraction of many forms of primitive life as well as a variety of birds. It also became a fertile soil for the different rare species of plants," he noted. 

One of the important animals that live in Al Wathba is the Dabb Lizard, which depends in its living on eating plants or the eggs of birds. Al Wathba also contains 16 kinds of reptiles and 19 kinds of mammals, according to Mansoury. He pointed out that Al Wathba Natural Reserve is expected to be open for visitors by 2009. 

"We are expecting that Al Wathba would turn into an international centre for environmental researchers and those concerned with primitive life in future. Besides, Al Wathba is a member of the International Federation for Environment Preservation, which is the biggest non-governmental organisation in the world," he said. – The Gulf Today