Look: Baby gazelle born near UAE aluminium smelter rescued

Abu Dhabi - The fawn and its mother were returned to the safety of a nearby beach in Al Taweelah.

An Arabian sand gazelle fawn born in the shadow of Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) aluminium smelter was recently released into the wild, together with its mother.

During the EGA team’s regular patrols at the site in Abu Dhabi’s Al Taweelah area, it spotted the fawn, hidden by its mother in the bushes. The officers checked on the fawn’s condition and kept watch until its mother returned, taking care of the gazelles until they were ready to move. The team then returned the mother and its fawn to the safety of a nearby beach.

“Our patrols are focused on security and fire safety, but we do quite often encounter wildlife venturing near our plant area. It was a privilege to be able to help this fawn in the first hours of its life and then watch it safely tottering off down our beach with its mother,” said Essa Kalantar, associate manager of the EGA’s Security team.

The Arabian sand gazelle — one of the protected species in the UAE — are native to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, living in sand dunes and coastal flats.

EGA is committed to protecting the environment wherever it operates, including protecting and conserving local wildlife, the statement said. Before construction began on EGA’s alumina refinery in Al Taweelah, EGA carefully relocated the fauna living on the site. Its environmental team also surveys and protects the nests of critically endangered Hawksbill turtles that use EGA’s beach at Al Taweelah each year.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi