UAE teeming with wildlife

A readert praises the RAK Wildlife Project's efforts to document the biodiversity in Northern Emirates. Other topics: life in Abu Dhabi, airline safety, free speech in India, schoolchildren

A reader praises the RAK Wildlife Project’s efforts to document the biodiversity in Northern Emirates. Courtesy Dr Anne-Lise Chaber

Regarding the article Discovery of Blanford's fox in RAK (March 29), when the Arabian Leopard Trust, set up by Dr Marijcke Jongbloed, was in existence in the early 1990s, motion-triggered cameras were set up in the Musandam mountains to take a closer look at the wildlife there.

The Arabian leopard and the Caracal lynx were found to be living there. The cameras also captured foxes – including Blanford’s foxes – and other animals that wandered around at night. Tahr, which was thought to be extinct, was also photographed. Thank you for this article, which lets us know that the work to find and record the country’s flora and fauna is continuing.

Gail Gordon, Dubai

Few better places to live than Abu Dhabi

I've been living in Abu Dhabi since 2005, and what I read in Deborah Williams' notebook is unbelievable (Do they mean us? Travel tips don't reflect who we are, March 27).

I never had any problem in finding a taxi. Taxis are also cheap here.

The American freelance reporter’s “tips” that Ms Williams brings to our attention are disturbing. Not only have I never been badly treated here, unlike the freelance reporter, but for the first time in my life I feel safe and respected. No one has ever stared at me, or talked to me disrespectfully. I cannot remember any man looking at me while having coffee alone or with my daughter. When my daughter visits us, I feel no anxiety.

I regularly post lovely picture of my life in Abu Dhabi on Facebook and all my friends just say: “You live in paradise.”

I always thank God for bringing us here.

Daniela D'Onofrio, Abu Dhabi

Airlines need a safety overhaul

Since the first suspected case of pilot suicide in 1964, when a Pacific Air flight crashed with 44 passengers on board, such incidents have claimed thousands of lives (Alps pilot was ill on day of crash, March 28).

This calls for a thorough review of pilot psychology and regular screening.

This increasingly common phenomenon means that airlines will need a complete safety overhaul.

AR Modak, South Africa

Questions over free speech

The victory of free speech in India is good news (Victory for free speech in India, March 25).

In a democracy, freedom of speech should not be a subject of debate. Unfortunately, politicians were bending the rules within the constitution to suit their needs. In 2012, a university professor was arrested for publishing a cartoon of the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party criticised Section 66A – which provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine for anyone found guilty of sending messages that are “grossly offensive” or “menacing” in character – when it was in the opposition, but defended the provision after coming to power last May.

In the light of these incidents the victory is certainly welcome, but at a time when India is increasingly facing threats from terrorists and antisocial elements, some kind of control is perhaps necessary.

Sudheer Mahapatra, India

Schoolchildren’s story humbling

Education is the best thing in life and there are so many opportunities in the UAE to educate our children. Yet, it's sad that so many people cannot afford to pay for their children's education (Cash-strapped parents owe school Dh500,000, March 16). People are increasingly feeling the effects of the rising cost of living. This is a worldwide phenomenon.

Looking at them, I realise how fortunate I am to be able to live with my family and educate my children.

I wish I could help who cannot afford to keep those children at school. But that’s how the world is. Some are fortunate, some are not. We can’t fix every problem. But I am humbled by these stories.

Mainuna Akhter, Dubai