A Rescue in the Heart of Saih Al Salam
On July 17, Emirati resident Mohammed Salem Al Muhairbi intervened to save an injured male gazelle in the Saih Al Salam desert, where surface temperatures reached 48°C. The animal, found near Al Qudra Lakes, was too weak to flee — a clear sign of distress to Al Muhairbi, who has spent 25 years traversing the region.
Unlike typical gazelles that bolt at human approach, the animal made feeble, labored attempts to move, its leg visibly compromised. Recognizing the risk of panic-induced cardiac arrest in extreme heat, Al Muhairbi withdrew and waited 30 minutes until the gazelle calmed. He then contacted a veterinarian, who sedated the creature to prevent further injury during transport.
The gazelle spent two weeks under professional care, receiving IV fluids, nutritional support, and wound treatment. Upon full recovery, it was returned to the exact location from which it was rescued — a decision guided by ecological caution: releasing a male gazelle into a territory occupied by other males could trigger conflict before full physical restoration.
Public Safety and Wildlife Protocols
Dubai Municipality’s Animal Care and Welfare Centre and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) urge residents to never attempt direct contact with injured desert wildlife. Even seemingly passive animals can react violently out of fear, posing serious risk to humans — and fatal stress to the animal.
Official guidance is straightforward:
• Keep distance and avoid startling the animal
• Record precise GPS coordinates or visible landmarks
• Call 800900 (Dubai Municipality) or 8003050 (MOCCAE) — both lines operate 24/7 for wildlife emergencies
• Do not offer water, food, or manual restraint
Specialized teams from the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and Dubai Safari Park’s veterinary unit are deployed for high-risk rescues, especially involving horned species like male gazelles or oryx. Improper handling has led to deaths — not just of animals, but also of well-intentioned bystanders.
A Legacy Etched in Sand
Al Muhairbi’s bond with Saih Al Salam predates his rescue. His father hunted there 50 years ago, and Al Muhairbi — now 47 — continues weekly visits, even in summer, using only sand-worthy vehicles and carrying enough water for himself and the landscape.
One of his routines: watering a lone Ghaf tree beneath which his father once rested. That tree has become his quiet memorial. Alongside this personal ritual, he removes trash from remote zones inaccessible to municipal crews and warns off reckless off-road drivers whose noise disrupts wildlife.
In 2008, he arrived too late to save an oryx entangled in wire mesh — a memory that deepened his commitment. Today, he sees himself as both custodian and witness: a link between a dying Bedouin tradition and the modern UAE’s conservation push.
Conservation in the Age of Development
Saih Al Salam is now part of Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan, with new eco-tourism routes planned for 2028 — designed to enhance public access without compromising ecological integrity. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, spanning 225 km², has helped stabilize gazelle numbers: recent official surveys indicate a steady recovery trend, though exact population figures are updated annually by MOCCAE.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are integrating traditional ecological knowledge — like Al Muhairbi’s instinctive understanding of animal behavior — into AI-driven monitoring systems across eight desert reserves. This blend of ancestral insight and modern science may be the most lasting legacy of his actions.
The rescued gazelle, now back in the wild, is one small success. But the real story lies in the unwavering presence of a man who still comes every week — for the tree, for the desert, and for the memory of a father who taught him that the land remembers those who care for it.
