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Hawar Islands
These are group of
around 16 small limestone desert islands located 25 km southeast to
the main island of
Bahrain. The flat desert islands are surrounded by shallow
water no deeper than six meters. Mudflats are common around the
islands and
are visited by wading birds. Salt marshes and other water grasses
flourish there.
A large number of cormorants are found on Hawar islands, as well as
large migratory wader species of birds including the Greater
Flamingos. These islands are important breeding sites for some
important regional species. The small island of Sawad al-Janubiah
supports the largest known breeding colony in the world of Socotra
Cormorant and significant numbers of Greater Flamingo an d
Black-headed Gull, and the Sooty Falcon, a black falcon about one
quarter of the size of the ordinary falcon.
Notable marine species in the
surrounding waters include the endangered dugong and several species
of marine turtles. There are seagrass meadows
that support grazing marine animals such as the dugong, and Green
turtles. The islands are also home to the bottlenose dolphin.
Several hundred camels roam the
island. They are not indigenous, and were brought to Hawar in the
19th century.
Bahrain created a Wildlife Sanctuary around Hawar Islands by Royal
Decree in 1995. The islands are in relatively pristine condition
because access is severely restricted by the coast guard and
military.
Ramsar site no. 921
The Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands came into force for Bahrain on 27 February 1998.
Tubli Bay and Hawar Islands are the country’s 2 sites
designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a total
surface area of 6,810 hectares.
References:
www.ramsar.org,
www.adias-uae.com, State of Bahrain Ministry of Information,
Washington, D.C.
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