You Can Now Watch Turtles in Louvre Abu Dhabi Waters

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) to create a pre-release turtle rehabilitation area at Louvre Abu Dhabi, in the waters surrounding the museum.

The project, which is the last step of the rehabilitation cycle before the marine animals are released back into the sea, is an extension of the EAD’s Wildlife Rescue Program to prepare the animals for release into Abu Dhabi’s waters in 2023. 

The area will be accessible to visitors, who can gain insight into the rehabilitation of the turtles through exhibits, workshops and curated events.  

.@dctabudhabi is partnering with @EADTweets to transform the waters at Louvre Abu Dhabi into a rehabilitation area for rescued turtles before release to their natural habitat, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s world-leading conservation efforts. pic.twitter.com/O0gvXOnSYT

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) December 7, 2022

This programme, which thus far has led to the rescue and release of more than 500 sea turtles, we are showcasing our conservation efforts and highlighting Abu Dhabi's role in prioritizing sustainable tourism-focused initiatives.”

The turtle rehabilitation area will be overseen by EAD, and operated by The National Aquarium, whose experts will help rehabilitate the animals before they are released back into their natural habitats so that they can grow and breed, leading to an increase in their numbers. 

The National Aquarium's marine biologists will ensure the area operates at the highest level of safety, quality and professionalism in line with international benchmarks for best practice.

EAD, the main environmental regulator in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and an organisation with several rehabilitation programmes for the conservation of biodiversity will play an integral role in this project, leading all turtle releases back into their natural habitats. To date EAD and The National Aquarium have released over 400 turtles.