Emirati rescues injured gazelle in 48°C heat in Saih Al Salam, then returns it to where it was found

Dubai: Emirati citizen Mohammed Salem Al Muhairbi realised that the gazelle he saw standing in the middle of the Saih Al Salam desert in Dubai was not in a normal state. He knew from his experience with animals that a gazelle runs away as soon as a person approaches up till a certain distance, but this gazelle remained in its place. When Al Muhairbi tried to get closer, the animal, which had an injury in its leg, began to make faltering attempts to escape, which prompted him to retreat immediately and leave it for about half an hour until it calmed down, for fear that it would die from the severity of its fear and exhaustion, at a time when the temperature was reaching about 48 degrees Celsius. In detail, Al Muhairbi, 47, said that the incident occurred on July 17, during his usual visit to the Saih Al Salam area near Al Qudra Lakes. He explained that he saw the gazelle standing, and he knew the distance at which the gazelle usually runs away, but when he approached it, he found it not moving, and the closer he got, the more it tried to run with great effort and rapid breaths. He added that he realised that trying to catch it directly could endanger his life, and it might die trying to escape from him, especially since the temperature was 48 degrees Celsius, so he stayed away from him for about half an hour until he calmed down, then he returned to it. Al-Muhairbi contacted the veterinarian, while carefully restraining the gazelle before capturing it. It was then sedated to prevent it from moving its injured leg, before being transferred to receive treatment, which lasted for two weeks, during which it underwent treatment, intravenous injections, and nutrition, until its condition improved and it was able to return to its environment. The gazelle needed two weeks of treatment to recover. Picture credit: Supplied After its treatment was completed, Al-Muhairbi returned the gazelle to the same location where he found it, explaining that the fact that it was a male made returning it to its area important, especially since it had not fully recovered its strength after the period of injury and treatment, while moving it to a place where there were other males might put it at risk. He pointed out that dealing with the rescue of injured gazelles and oryx requires expertise, warning against trying to catch them randomly, as this may pose a danger to both the person and the animal. He explained that dealing with a male gazelle requires expertise, as well, especially since it has horns, and catching it incorrectly may lead to injury to the person trying to rescue it, or expose the gazelle itself to death as a result of extreme fear, which may cause its breathing or heart to stop. He stressed that he does not advise anyone who finds an injured deer to try to catch it unless they have experience in dealing with it, and advised calling for the assistance of specialists, given the sensitivity of these animals and their reactions when frightened. This was not the first time Al-Muhairbi had encountered an animal in distress during his tours, as he had previously found an oryx with a piece of wire mesh wrapped around its neck, but it had died moments before he reached it. Al-Muhairbi’s relationship with Saih Al-Salam goes beyond the incident of rescuing the gazelle, as he has been visiting the area for about 25 years, and has not stopped coming to it in summer or winter, continuing his connection to the place that began with his father, who used to hunt there about 50 years ago. One of the areas of Saih Al Salam holds a special memory for Al Muhairbi, as his father knew it and used to visit it, and he used to ask him about it during the period when he could no longer go there. As his son, he continued to visit it even after his father’s death, saying: “I remained loyal to this place, and I go to it every week, and I water the tree under which my father used to take shelter.” He mentioned that he visits the area weekly, often alone, despite its location deep in the desert and the difficulty of ordinary vehicles reaching it. The journey requires the use of a vehicle equipped to travel on sand, and he makes sure to bring enough quantities of water and other necessary supplies during his tours. Al-Muhairbi does not just inspect the place and the animals, as he said that he sometimes comes across vehicles that make disturbing noises that may harm and frighten the gazelles, so he goes to their owners and advises them to stay away from them and not disturb them. He also collects as much waste as he can from the desert visitors in areas that are difficult for cleaning workers to reach, and carries it in his vehicle to dispose of it, a habit he says he has maintained throughout his years of connection to the place.