Fókuszban Katar legkedveltebb állatai, az arab telivérektől a cetcápákon át a sólymokig
A fenséges arab telivérektől a tenger „szelíd óriásain”, a cetcápákon át az intelligens sólymokig, Katar állati öröksége generációkra nyúlik vissza. Katar számos erőfeszítést tesz annak érdekében, hogy mind kulturális örökségét, mind biológiai sokféleségét megőrizze.
00:00Some of the horses are like models, to be honest.
00:05The head for the Arabian horse, the curve of the back,
00:08every part of the horse will give its own beauty.
00:12Most species that live here are extraordinary,
00:15because we have here the Gulf is a very special ecosystem.
00:20The animals that live here need to have a physiological adaptation
00:23for the intense salinity and for the intense temperature.
00:30Hello, welcome to Qatar 365 with me, Adil Halim.
00:34On this episode, we take a closer look at Qatar's efforts
00:37to preserve its unique wildlife and natural heritage,
00:40from falcons soaring in the sky to marine life in the country's coastal waters.
00:45But first, Yohanna Hoos visits the Qatar International Arabian Horse Festival
00:50to learn all about an animal that's been roaming the country's desert lands for millennia.
00:55Celebrated for their endurance, fiery temperament and striking physical features,
01:03few animals are cherished more in the Middle East than Arabian horses.
01:07Dating back at least four and a half thousand years,
01:10the breed is thought to be one of the oldest in the world
01:13and is part and parcel of the region's rich cultural and equestrian heritage.
01:18I've come to the Qatar International Arabian Horse Festival here in Doha
01:22to get up close with these majestic animals.
01:25Currently in its fifth edition, the festival spotlights Qatar's deep-rooted equine traditions
01:30and provides a platform for local owners and breeders
01:33to showcase their horses on an international stage.
01:36It's become a flagship event on the world's equestrian calendar
01:39with only the finest Arabians eligible to compete.
01:43The Arabian Horse is very important to all Arabs and in Qatar in specific.
01:48We really get the pride of having or owning these types of horses.
01:54The Qatar International Arabian Horse Festival is one of the biggest horse beauty champion in the world
02:00in terms of the prizes given.
02:02What we are trying to do is to increase the number of Arabian horse within Qatar
02:07and to start to compete outside Qatar.
02:10We need really to keep the clear breed of this horse
02:14and we need to encourage it more by having a special championship for these horses only.
02:21Judges have their work cut out for them as the competition in the various categories is fierce.
02:26With so much refinement and beauty on display,
02:28it's hard to imagine that these horses' striking physical attributes
02:32are the result of the harsh desert climate in which the breed evolved.
02:37Some of the horses are like models, to be honest.
02:39The head for the Arabian horse, you will notice that the head is a bit smaller than the other horses.
02:46And the nostrils of the horse also is different than the normal horses which are a bit bigger.
02:54The mouth as well, the curve of the back and the tail upwards.
03:00Standing in a position, it's a model.
03:04When you see it, it's a model.
03:06So every part of the horse will give its own beauty.
03:10The Qatar International Arabian Horse Festival isn't just about the action in the arena.
03:16There are plenty of equestrian activities on offer for horse lovers of all ages,
03:20including saddle painting, art exhibitions and educational workshops.
03:25It's a festival that's as much about celebrating the beauty of the breed today
03:29as it is about preserving the legacy of these prized animals
03:32that for thousands of years have roamed the ancient desert sands of the Arabian Peninsula.
03:42Now, from preservation initiatives on land to efforts to document Qatar's rich marine life.
03:47Every year, from April to September, just off the country's northwest coast,
03:52the Arabian Gulf is home to an incredible natural phenomenon,
03:55one of the largest gatherings of whale sharks.
03:58They're just one of many sea animals found in Qatar's territorial waters.
04:05Professor, Qatar University plays a key role in documenting the country's rich marine life.
04:10What are some of the most extraordinary creatures that either pass through
04:14or live in the country's coastal waters?
04:17In my opinion, most species that live here are extraordinary
04:21because we have here, the Gulf is a very special ecosystem.
04:25We have one of the most extreme higher salinity and higher temperature waters in the world.
04:32So the animals that live here need to have a physiological adaptation for the intense salinity
04:37and for the intense temperature.
04:39So the coral reefs here, in my opinion, are the most extraordinary one.
04:43And they survive to temperature that most corals in the world are dying.
04:47Then we have the other animals that surround us here, including the animals that enter the Gulf
04:53to search for a better condition for reproduction, for nesting like the sea turtles.
04:59So Qatar is home to one of the largest congregations of whale sharks.
05:02What is it about the natural environment that exists here that brings these majestic creatures to Qatar?
05:08Honestly, nobody knows exactly why they are here.
05:14We know that they might have a good food resource.
05:17So they have a great amount of food available.
05:21And in certain mode, they feel protected in this region.
05:25And it's interesting because they search the region here in the summer, the most extreme temperatures.
05:34But it still is not well-defined why they are here and why make this region so special.
05:42So what are some of the biggest threats Qatar faces when it comes to marine biodiversity and its ecosystem?
05:47Like we said, here is one very extraordinary environment with really high temperature.
05:53But the temperature, it's passing really above what used to be very high.
06:00So what used to reach 36, 35, now is keeping, let's say, 36 for three months sometimes.
06:07So this is a great threat.
06:09Then we have also the fishing activity.
06:12Some fishing activity are really compromising the ecosystem.
06:16And the ghost nets as well.
06:19We see a lot of turtles dying in death.
06:21A lot of marine life are dying because sometimes the fishermen lost their gear.
06:26And then when we are diving, we find the gear like covering coral reef zones.
06:30Some of the species in Qatar's water are now endangered or vulnerable.
06:35What's the country doing to preserve and restore the environment for these creatures?
06:41We are beyond the moment of only preserving.
06:44We need to actively restore the ecosystem, especially the key ones that are the oyster beds and the coral reefs.
06:51Because the marine life here, all the male turtles, for instance, in the reproduction time, they are above the coral reefs.
06:59The dolphins, they are linked to the coral reefs.
07:02Like in theory, one of the main food linked to the whale sharks are linked to the coral reefs as well.
07:09So yes, if we focus in restoring oyster beds and coral reefs is the main solution to recover the ecosystem.
07:19Along with the majestic Arabian horses we saw earlier, falcons are also highly regarded animals here in Qatar.
07:30The art of falconry has been passed down for generations and that strong legacy continues here in Doha's historic Suk Waqif.
07:37Laila Humaira visited a hospital dedicated entirely to the preservation and care of these birds of prey.
07:44Just like a regular clinic, these patients are waiting for their turn with the doctor.
07:51Some are coming in for a routine check-up while others need to fix a feather or two.
07:56This is the Suk Waqif Falcon Hospital, a one-of-a-kind clinic that also houses a falcon museum.
08:03We have two operation theaters, one for orthopedic and one for soft tissue surgery.
08:10From diagnosis to treatment to supportive surface like the microchip or ID or passport or anything else.
08:18In the hospital, we have a software, a unique medical system which will be storage all data of that falcon science, 2008 until now.
08:28Falconry is a tradition many Qataris like Ms. Ned Al-Muhannadi was born into.
08:33Once used by past generations to hunt for food, the falcon has become an expensive symbol of status and an enduring cultural heritage.
08:42I was like six to seven years old. First, they teach you to give respect to that bird and it has to be a bond with you and the falcon.
08:56Building trust with a wild animal is a long and time-consuming process and a big part of that is learning how to care for the falcon.
09:04In addition to providing medical care and surgery for the falcons, the hospital also has labs capable of gene sequencing, clinical tests and vaccinations to make sure that the highly revered birds are in the best of health when they soar high in the sky.
09:19Majestic, agile and intelligent, the falcon is a natural predator.
09:25While hunting is in its DNA, the secret of the falcon's skills is in its anatomy.
09:31The falcon is a unique bird. It's a very strong bird. For the nostril, he has a small bone in the center, which will give him the opportunity to the air when he's stopping.
09:43The air coming like a cylinder, become hot and relax with a slow flow to the lung.
09:49He has nine air sacs which will be like a bank of oxygen when he wants more oxygen.
09:54A hunter is only as good as his tools, so it's no wonder the falcons also get their beaks and talons maintained at the hospital.
10:02Depending on what breed the falcons are, the most common being peregrine, sucker and gear, the birds of prey are known to fetch up to millions of dollars in the market.
10:12So the most common would be like 5,000 riyals, it's gonna be like a hundred, no, it's gonna be a thousand dollars, until a million dollars.
10:23That is a lot, you know, expensive falcons that's really, really, really expensive. It's like, you know, it's like buying a house.
10:31The Sukwakif Falcon Hospital also took part in a pioneering genome project aimed at sequencing different breeds to develop new ways of identifying falcons and overcoming potential diseases.
10:44We can now, by the genome, by genes test, we can know that falcon which will be pure, sucker or peregrine or gear, or maybe hybrid.
10:55And at the same time, that they open to you the door for a lot of benefits, like, you know, what is the gene in the gear falcon can give you suspected to more of that disease than the peregrine falcon in this disease.
11:09In March, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, opened an office at the hospital,
11:18which will facilitate the international transit and movement of falcons, boosting the country's contributions to the protection of animals,
11:26and further putting falconry in Qatar on the wings of honour, prestige and tradition.
11:33From majestic Arabian horses roaming on land, to marine life swimming underwater, and falcons soaring in the skies above,
11:43we hope you enjoyed this look at Qatar's wildlife preservation efforts.
11:47But that's all the time we have for now. For more, check out Euronews.com and connect with us through our hashtag.
11:52Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Qatar 365.
