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.
