Hawksbill Turtle
A rare visitor to Bu Tinah's protected reefs and mangroves.
via Wikipedia: Bu Tinah · see source
The hawksbill turtle is a rare marine reptile found in the waters around Bu Tinah Island. The 'rare hawksbill turtle' is among the globally endangered marine life that inhabits Bu Tinah's shallow waters, seagrass beds, tall mangroves, and extensive coral reefs. This species is part of the rich biodiversity protected within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated site since 2001. The hawksbill's presence underscores the ecological significance of Bu Tinah, which serves as a unique living laboratory for climate change research due to its high temperature and salinity levels.
Lore & Background
The hawksbill turtle is one of the globally endangered marine species found in Bu Tinah's waters, according to the source. The archipelago's extensive coral reefs and seagrass beds provide critical habitat for this turtle, alongside other rare species like the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin and the dugong. Bu Tinah's coral community is of keen scientific interest because it survives in conditions—water temperatures as high as 35 °C in summer and among the most saline in the world—that would kill coral species elsewhere. The hawksbill's presence in this extreme environment highlights the resilience of Bu Tinah's ecosystem, which is closed to visitors and protected by patrols that enforce bans on fishing and the collection of turtle eggs. An Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi Ranger Station on the island monitors these protections.
Reader's Guide
The hawksbill turtle is listed as a rare species in Bu Tinah's waters, according to the source. The island is part of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, the region's first and largest UNESCO-designated marine biosphere reserve, with a territory of more than 4,000 km2. Bu Tinah is closed to visitors, and fishing and the collection of turtle eggs are prohibited, enforced by patrols. The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi maintains a Ranger Station on the island. The archipelago has also been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for breeding Socotra cormorants and wintering Siberian sand plovers.
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