Coinciding with Egypt’s celebrations of World Wildlife Day, celebrated on 3 March, the Egyptian Ministry of Environment’s Ashtoum al-Gamil Reserve, released the green turtle “Ezz” into the wild.
Ezz belongs to the green sea turtles threatened with extinction. It had been found in a fish market in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya by a young man name Ezz who rescued it and handed it over to the local wildlife authorities; the turtle was named Ezz after him. The turtle was moved to Ashtoum al-Gamil reserve where it was examined, given the proper care, and its ability to continue living in its natural habitat ensured.
In light of the theme of World Wildlife Day this year, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”, Yasmine Fuad, Minister of Environment said that protecting wildlife and biodiversity is one of the most important strategic goals of the Ministry of Environment. She stressed that the Ministry is striving to support environmental investment and involve the private sector and youth in protection efforts.
The Minister of Environment explained that World Wildlife Day represents a real opportunity to celebrate the diversity and richness of wildlife, increase awareness of their worth, and preserve their sustainability.
It was in December 2013 that the United Nations General Assembly declared 3 March as World Wildlife Day. The date coincides with the day on which the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted in 1973, which plays an important role in ensuring that international trade does not pose a threat to the survival of these species of wild animals and plants.
Watani International
3 March 2025
