Ras al Khor
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Ras Al Khor, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a wetland reserve renowned for attracting migratory birds in large numbers. The wetlands have large numbers of birds, crustaceans, small mammals and fish.
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary represents an enclave of relative wilderness amidst swirling traffic and sprawling urban infrastructure. Located just as the name in Arabic suggests - at the 'head of the creek,' it is among the few urban protected areas of the world.
The Dubai Municipality has taken great efforts to protect and preserve the biodiversity of this delicate ecosystem. The wetland has been fenced off from the public and three birding hides have been built. The bird hides are a first step towards development of more elaborate visitor education facilities in the protected area. WWF UAE Project Office collaborated with Dubai Municipality's Environment Department, in setting up the facilities that were sponsored by the National Bank of Dubai.
Opportunities for experiencing a natural environment in this rapidly building-up emirate are so limited that the opening of Ras Al Khor to visitors is a boon to present and potential nature lovers.
Presently there are three birding hides located on the perimeter of the sanctuary open to the public. Entrance is free and operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday to Thursday.
Ras Al Khor is also home to about 500 Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus), which has become somewhat of a mascot for Dubai's Wild Life protection program.
[edit] Species
Some of the regular visitors to the sanctuary are:
- Asian Pied Myna
- Black-winged stilt
- Caspian Tern
- Common Greenshank
- Common Hoopoe
- Common Kingfisher
- Common Sandpiper
- Common Snipe
- Curlew
- Dunlin
- Eurasian marsh-harrier
- Great Black Backed Gull
- Great White Egret
- Greater Flamingo
- Grey Francolin
- Grey Heron
- Grey Plover
- Indian Peafowl
- Indian Roller
- Indian Silverbill
- Isabelline Shrike
- Little Bittern
- Little Green Beeeater
- Malabar Lark
- Mallard
- Osprey
- Pied avocet
- Purple Sunbird
- Red-vented Bulbul
- Red-Wattled lapwing
- Ringed Plover
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Sanderling
- Snowy Plover
- Socotra Cormorant
- Spotted Eagle
- Terek Sandpiper
- Western Reef Heron
- White Wagtail
- White-eared bulbul
- Yellow Billed Stork
