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Rare Species Spotted in Dubai

DUBAI - Rare species of snake and birds have been spotted in the Bab Al Shams desert area in Dubai — a thread snake and two birds, Asian desert warbler and Karwan or the Eurasian thick-knee — during a recent field trip by Dr Mohammed Ali Reza Khan, a specialist with the Dubai Zoo, and his colleagues.

Giving details of the rare find, Dr Khan said the snake, which was 40 cm long, was only as think as a hairpin. “It is non-poisonous and looks more like an earthworm than a snake. It was spotted under a stone inside the Dubai Municipality Departmental Conservation Area No 8 in Bab Al Shams,” he was quoted in a press release.

The Asian desert warbler, the bird spotted by the Municipality team, is one of the smallest and rarest birds seen in the UAE desert, according to Dr Khan.

“It measures less than 10cm in 
length and has prominent yellow 
eyes and legs. This bird feeds only on insects, their larvae and spiders. It is, no doubt, a friend of our plants and gardens,” said Dr. Khan

As for Karwan, which was also spotted during his trip to Bab Al Shams desert, he said, “Karwan is the Arabic name for the Eurasian thick-knee. During the last century, it used to be hunted along with falcons. As there is no more hunting in our areas I saw three of these birds among the bases of Acacia ehrenbergiana’s scattered forests in Bab Al Ahams area,” he said.

Dr Khan said he spotted another rare bird in the Safa Park area recently. “As I entered the Safa Park area through gate number 3 at 3.30pm (that day) and took a left turn towards the boating lake approach road I saw an Ashy Drongo chasing a Hoopoe bird to snatch food — a cut worm — larva of a garden beetle from it,” he said.

“I saw it several times up to 4.30pm but could not take pictures as it was moving too much. I left the park after a while but came back next morning at 7.15am. I followed the same road inside the park and found the Ashy Drongo beyond the BBQ area No. 18 on Albizzia lebbeck, Ficus religiosa trees. Up to 8am I could take a few pictures. The Drongo was terribly harassed by the house crows,” said Dr. Khan.

He said that Ashy Drongo had earlier been seen once at the Sewage Treatment Plant at Al Warsan during last December and once in Safa Park during January this year.

“So, this sighting is the third record for Dubai and fifth for the UAE. Record shows that it (Ashy Drongo) was first found in Abu Dhabi and Ain Al Faydah as shown in the bird recorder’s information,” added Dr. Khan.

When contacted, Dr Khan said the findings reflected on the rich habitats in the emirate of Dubai.

“These animals must be getting good food and shelter as well as protection from the government,” he said, adding that special rehabilitation programmes were needed, even though hunting in the desert areas of Duba has already been banned.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com