 It
could be the serenity. It could be the beauty of the coastline.
It could be the warmth of the inhabitants. Or maybe, it is a combination
of all these and more that attracts the largest number of mating
turtles in Oman, to the Ra’s Al Hadd peninsula. Located
in the Wilayat of Sur in the Sharqiya region, it is the migration
destination for 6000–13000 turtles who make their annual
journey here, from the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and the East
African Coast.
THE GREEN SIGNAL FOR LIFE
Oman is a vital area for green turtles in the Indian Ocean and
the green turtle is heavily protected by the government of the
country. In fact, over 275 of the Sultanate’s beaches double-up
as nesting grounds for five of the seven recognised species of
sea turtles, the most common being the green turtle. The ‘green
turtle’ gets its name from the colour its body becomes because
of the green algae it feeds on. They spend most of their lives
in the sea, but return to land to lay their eggs. The females,
according to researchers, come back to the beach of their birth
to lay their eggs, in the company of their prospective mates.
They swim thousands of miles to get to their ‘natal’
beach.
MOTHER POWER
After the mating ceremony, the female is ready to lay her eggs
in the sand. Before this however, sh e
labouriously digs a number of false nests with her hind flippers
to divert predators from her real nest. Only then does she settle
down and deposit her eggs into the nest. The eggs number about
100 in all. The mother then goes about covering them with sand,
in a process that could take up to four hours. Then exhausted
but satisfied, she returns to the shallows, when she will keep
guard, without feeding, for two weeks. After which she returns
to lay her next batch of eggs… a cycle that she will repeat
over eight times in the nesting season.
Female turtles lay eggs every four years. These take about two
months to hatch. The sex of the unhatched turtle depends on the
temperature of the sand in which the female lays its eggs. After
breaking through the shells and digging out of the nests, the
babies head for the ocean. Sadly, many will get eaten by predators
during their very first journey in life!
Sea turtles, being large in size, seldom face attack from other
marine creatures. However, many succumb to lifethreatening fishing
nets and plastic bags. Ra’s Al Hadd is home to a large fishing
community. And to ensure that both the turtles and the fishermen
benefit, two management areas have been demarcated. First priority
is given to the nesting sites here, and tourism is strictly monitored.
UP CLOSE WITH THE TURTLES
A visit to Oman will not be complete without a visit to the Ra’s
Al Hadd Turtle Reserve. You will have to obtain a visitor’s
permit from the Director General of Nature Reserves, Ministry
of Regional Municipalities and Environment, or the Directorate
General of Regional Municipalities and Environment, A’Sharqiya
region, before you visit. Once you get there, please make sure
you follow these simple dos and don’ts.
1. Do not make noise and disturb the peace.
2. Do not bring your camera to the nesting site.
The flash could unsettle the mother turtle.
3. Do not touch any of the turtles or eggs.
4. Do not spend the night on the beach.
5. Do not litter.
If you follow these simple instructions, you will find yourself
part of an exciting new life process. With the guidance of the
reserve wardens, you will watch the beginnings of a species so
ancient, it is said they watched the dinosaurs evolve and become
extinct.
 FUTURE
PLANS
To boost tourism and trade, the Government of Oman is planning
to construct a new airport at Ra’s Al Hadd by the year 2006.
This airport will transform the region and make the turtles more
accessible to tourists. But at the same time strict monitoring
will ensure that the turtles will in no way be disturbed.
PLACES TO STAY:
Turtle Beach Resort - Situated just 50 meters away from the waterfront,
this resort is fully equipped to fulfill the varied tastes of
even the most discerning customer. It is constructed in the traditional
Omani style. Guests can experience living in the wild in 22 spacious,
well-furnished ‘huts’, artistically built with date
palm sticks and leaves. The restaurant resembles a 16th C Arab
sailing boat.
Sur Plaza Hotel - Situated 308 kms. from Seeb
International airport, this hotel has 81 single / double rooms,
24 twin rooms and 3 suites. The standard rooms are equipped with
all modern amenities. A variety of restaurants and bars like the
Oyster Restaurant, Captain Pub, Sambouk Bar and Sambaka Bar offer
a choice selection of fine dining.
You can relax with recreation facilities like an outdoor swimming
pool, fitness centre, pool table, etc. For the business travellers
there are conference room facilities available as well. The recently
launched ‘Turtle M a g i c ’ package as well as other
packages are also on offer .
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