UAE-Oman to ink two wildlife pacts

"This would be in addition to the proposed agreement between the two countries to protect the Arabian Antelope, Gazelles and Asian Houbarah from indiscriminate hunting and poaching, besides jointly preventing illegal trade of animals facing extinction," said Majid Ali Al Mansouri, Secretary-General, Erwda, on the occasion of the visit of Ali bin Amir Al Kaioumy, Director-General of Wild Life Protection Department at the Omani Ministry of Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources, to the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) located in Sowaihan near Al Ain.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Kaioumy said: "Studies of the two types of turtles found in Al Dimaneyat Islands' Protectorate in Oman have proved that the migration of turtles was within the region, and not outside."

He said the main purpose of his visit was to protect wildlife common to both countries, besides studying and exchanging information on animal and birds behaviour, which would be set out in the agreement to be signed soon by the two countries. NARC too, had, since 2001, conducted several field visits and studies in Gaddat Al Harasees Protectorate in Oman.