Watch turtles hatch at Fuwairit Beach with Culture Pass

Valued Culture Pass Family members can witness the hatching of hawksbills turtle along Qatar’s coastline

Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) with the support of the Qatar Natural History Group, invites Qatar Museums’ Culture Pass Family members on field trips to observe the hatching of the hawksbill turtle as part of the Qatar Turtle Project at Fuwairit Beach. This year’s edition of Turtle Encounters is focused on giving children the opportunity to enjoy the annual hatching phase of the hawksbill turtle - classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1982 - along Qatar’s coastline. The hatching phase takes place each year from the beginning of June until the end of July.

Essa Al Mannai, Director of Dadu, said: “Environmental conservation and sustainability are key strategic learning goals at Dadu. The values and attitudes children develop today are crucial to sustainable societies in the future. Through initiatives such as these, children are able to witness the beauty of nature first-hand, deepening their respect for and connection with the natural world. A special thank you to the MOECC for making Turtle Encounters possible to our young audience and for their ongoing commitment to protecting and promoting Qatar’s natural habitat.”

Culture Pass Family members can sign up for the Turtle Encounters taking place from 8pm to 9pm on 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 June and 5, 7, 12 July. For the safety of participants and the marine life, spaces are limited for each visit. Culture Pass Family members will receive the registration link for Turtle Encounters through the members newsletter. 

As part of Turtle Encounters, participating Culture Pass Family will visit the turtle nesting site on Fuwairit beach before participating in a beach cleanup. During the experience, visitors will watch a team of environmental conservationists collect, count and measure baby turtle hatchlings before releasing them into the sea.

Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Khanji, Director of the Department of Wildlife Development at the MOECC stated that work on the project to protect sea turtles in Qatar began in 2003, passing through several stages, the last of which was closing Fuwairit Beach where more than 35,000 turtle hatchlings have been released into the sea over the past five years.

To spread awareness and highlight Qatar’s efforts to protect endangered species, the ministry is allowing members of the community to visit the turtle hatching site to learn more about its conservation efforts.  

Members of the community visiting the turtle hatching site, including children, have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of protecting endangered species and to participate in the release of turtle hatchlings.
Dr. Thierry Lesales, chair of QNHG said: “Qatar Natural History Group has been active in the country since 1978. We are glad to contribute to this project, raising awareness within the community on this conservation effort. It is our duty and joy to show children in Qatar how truly amazing the local marine life, including desert plants and animals, is. As part of this initiative we are also able to raise awareness on the importance of fighting plastic pollution and protecting ecosystems of the peninsula while demonstrating how the authorities are striving to save the hawksbill turtle.”

As a show of appreciation for their tireless dedication to educating Qatar’s future generations, Dadu invited teachers from across Qatar to witness the nesting phase of the hawksbill turtle in May. Additionally, Dadu is delivering turtle hatching workshops in schools across Doha. To date, more than 100 children across different schools have already participated in these workshops. 

During the nesting phase, from the beginning of April to the end of May, environmental conservationists take measurements of the turtle eggs, tag and track the eggs before transferring them to a protected site.

The Qatar Turtle Project, initiated in 2003, is sponsored by Qatar Petroleum and implemented by the Environmental Science Center at Qatar University under the supervision of MOECC.  

To learn more about Qatar Museums’ Culture Pass membership, or to sign up to become a Culture Pass Family member, please visit https://qm.org.qa/en/culture-pass-membership/family-child-friendly-offer/ Note that this event is only open to Culture Pass Family category members. Registration for Turtle Encounters will open on 9 June.

About Dadu

Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, will provide a unique place for learning and growth through inclusive, open-ended play, exploration, and experimentation. Through an oasis of stimulating, interactive, and accessible indoor and outdoor experiences for families in the heart of Doha, Dadu will nurture children's development, inspire their curiosity, encourage collaboration and dialogue, provide the tools to fuel creativity and instil a sense of social responsibility. Under development by Qatar Museums, the new institution is designed to challenge and inspire children and advance the Qatar National Vision 2030 for human, social, economic and environmental development. Although doors are not yet open, the Museum is already engaging the community in Qatar through programmes from family events with allied organizations to museum-in-residences in schools around Doha.  Essa Al Mannai has served as the Museum's director since 2019.

About Qatar Museums

Qatar Museums (QM), the nation's preeminent institution for art and culture, provides authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves, restores, and expands the nation's cultural offerings and historical sites, sharing art and culture from Qatar, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. QM is integral to the goal of developing an innovative, diverse, and progressive nation, bringing people together to ignite new thinking, spark critical cultural conversations, educate and encourage environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, and amplify the voices of Qatar's people. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the Museum of Islamic Art and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar.

Through its newly created Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival and the creative hub for innovation, fashion and design M7—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.

Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.

Source: Qatar Museums PR