The Dugong calf was successfully rescued and rehabilitated by EAD, the Worldwide Zoo Consultants (WZC) and the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Regional Office
There was good news in the capital this week as Malquot, the Dugong calf who was rescued and in rehabilitation since 2019, found a new home at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi on Yas Island.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi’s (EAD) specialised marine species team, supported by experts from the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Regional Office and Worldwide Zoo Consultants (WZC), successfully recued the calf four years ago.
Found abandoned in Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve in poor health, he was transferred to a specialised facility and provided with 24-hour care until he was fully rehabilitated and healthy.
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The Agency was able to successfully rear and rehabilitate Malquot with the support of key stakeholders, including veterinarians and animal care staff vets from Worldwide Zoo Consultants.
After years of care by the dedicated team since his rescue in 2019, Malquot has now been successfully transferred to rescue facilities at the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre – where he can continue his life under human supervision.
As Malquot has been reared in a controlled environment, he has not developed normal immunity and has adapted to receiving specialist human care, which hinders his ability to interact with other species and avoid predators.
According to information from an MoU by the Secretariat of the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and previous attempts made around the world, no dugong to date successfully rehabilitated in captivity has been released back into its natural environment.
Therefore, EAD and its partners are working to continuously monitor the condition of Malquot to ensure that he receives the best possible care.
The Agency, through its team of experts, will be overseeing Malquot’s progress at the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre, and closely following up on health checks, behaviour and his overall acclimatisation to his new home at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will provide a dedicated team of animal care specialists that will attend to his every need and the EAD team of marine animal specialists will be on call to ensure he remains healthy.
Malquot was transported to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in a specially outfitted Marine Wildlife Rescue Vehicle. This temperature-controlled unit was designed for moving any large or small marine animal in need of assistance.
The vehicle allowed for veterinarians and animal care specialists to ride alongside Malquot the entire journey to monitor his vital statistics and mist his body with water.
He has grown from a newborn neonate of less than one month old to a five year-old male juvenile. Due to being rescued at such a young age Malqout would not be able to survive on his own out in the Arabian Gulf.
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