Houbara Poachers Fined and Jailed  For Six Months

AL RUWAIS (Abu Dhabi) — The Al Ruwais Court of First Instance recently sentenced two Emiratis to six months each in jail and ordered them to pay a fine of Dh20,000 each for hunting  22 houbara bustards and two falcons in Ghayathi Wildlife Sanctuary.

By Staff Reporter

Published: Mon 9 Feb 2009, 1:03 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 9:37 AM

According to court records, the two men drove a four-wheel-drive vehicle with no number plate, into the wildlife sanctuary without obtaining a permit from the authorities concerned.

The pair set free their two falcons inside the sanctuary for purpose of hunting houbara bustards. However, they were not aware that they were being watched by a patrol of the Animal Welfare Society. When they noticed the patrol they tried to flee, but were caught after their vehicle broke down during the chase. During a search of the vehicle, the patrol personnel recovered the two falcons that were used in hunting the birds, and one of the houbaras was found dead, in the car.

Meanwhile, a source in the attorney-general’s office in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said: “The Public Prosecution will seek imposition of strictest penalty against those involved in or charged with encroaching wildlife sanctuaries as per the Law 24/1999, which is amended with Law 11/2006 on the protection and development of wildlife sanctuaries, as well as Law 2/2005 on organising wildlife hunting in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

“Abu Dhabi has made distinctive achievements in the field of the protection and preservation of environment, and carried out pioneering projects, including the setting up of marine and wildlife sanctuaries, preserving endangered species of animals and birds as well as its commitment to control and regularise trading in endangered animals and plants,” the source said.

“Such achievements stemmed from the keen interest of the late President, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to activate the sustainable development policies along with giving top priority to the development schemes.”

Therefore, the role of the Public Prosecution and the judiciary in this matter is vital and necessary to protect the environmental projects and the wildlife sanctuaries in the emirate.

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