DUBAI // Two weeks ago JJ the cormorant lay close to death on the sand at Jumeirah Beach Residence, coated in oil, infested with fleas and with fishing line wrapped around its legs.
But you would not have known that yesterday when, after being rescued and restored to health by Dubai vet Dr Peter Jaworski, it was released back to the wild on one of the man-made islands that make up Nakheel's The World development.
The developer provided a boat to take Dr Jaworski and the rare Socotra cormorant to the Antarctica island. The Burj Khalifa and the towers along Sheikh Zayed Road could be seen across the water as the vet laid the carrying box containing the bird on the shore. He opened the door, then waited anxiously to see what would happen.
After a moment the grey adolescent cormorant stepped out on to the sand, stretched its slim neck and gazed around at its new surroundings. It took a few steps towards the water, then plunged in and set off serenely across the surface.
Dr Jaworski, a bird specialist at the Modern Veterinary Clinic on Al Wasl Road, admitted he had a tear in his eye.
"I felt The World would be a good location to release the bird because it has shallow waters that are full of fish and there are many different communities of birds," he said. "It is very safe, there is no human presence, no interference. I think he will adapt to the wild very soon.
"I don't think he will stay here, sooner or later his basic instincts will override his mind and he will go off looking for a mate and a place to nest."
Within minutes JJ was stretching its wings and chasing fish beneath the water and then, to Dr Jaworski's delight, it took off and soared overhead.
Brendan Jack, Nakheel's head of sustainability and environment, said: "I think this is excellent. We're a big supporter of environmental management and this is a great opportunity to help out.
"I chose this particular island because we already have a lot of cormorants in this area, they work between the island and the breakwater for fishing so it's a good area for a release."
As the boat eased away from the island JJ was last seen flying strongly - on top of The World.
csimpson@thenational.ae
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The biog
Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah
Date of birth: 15 November, 1951
Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”
Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
Rajasthan Royals 153-5 (17.5 ov)
Delhi Daredevils 60-4 (6 ov)
Rajasthan won by 10 runs (D/L method)
MATCH INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
Hamilton’s 2017
Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
Ponti
Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
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RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United: Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')
Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)