Egypt: The Executive Director of the Environmental Affairs Agency, Dr Ali Abu Sunnah and the Governor of Fayum governorate, Dr Ahmed Al-Ansari, accompanied the Jordanian Princess Alia Bint Al-Hussein to Wadi Al-Hitan governorate during her second visit to the Wadi Hitan Sanctuary at Youssef Al-Siddiq Centre, Egypt.
During the visit, the Princess of Jordan, Alia Bint Al-Hussein, along with the Governor of Fayoum, Ahmed Al-Ansari and the Head of the Environmental Affairs Department, Ali Abu Sunnah, listened to a detailed explanation from Dr Abdul Jalil Hoidi, Professor of Geology at the Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, about Wadi Al-Hitan Protection.
He further explained the history of the area in general and its fossils, where he pointed out that the Wadi Hitan Protection and Qatrani Mountain is the largest fossil mine Fiqaria around the world, referring to that more than 130 species of fossils have been extracted, starting from fish to the Egyptian Monkey which is the first creature bearing human traits in the animal kingdom.
It was also briefed that Howdy was drawn to how fossils and remains form in areas of sanctuaries, showing that the percentage of remains in any area or time period only rows between 2.5% and 13%, adding that the Whale Valley Sanctuary was part of the Mediterranean 40 million years ago.
In this context, it was explained that the Whale Valley Sanctuary making it rich in rare fossils of whales and the structures of many other animals and fish, Such as; sharks, osteoarthritis, jellyfish, drifles, turtles, sea snakes and the Pacillo saurus, which reaches up to 22 meters in length.
The visit included looking at the fossil museum and climate change and listening to a lecture on the composition of the museum, which includes 195 pieces telling the evolution of marine life in the area.
Moreover, the Whale Valley Sanctuary site is being managed in partnership with the local community. The locals in the area were trained on how to deliver information to visitors and sensitized on the need to conserve these Treasures that date back millions of years, a sign that the Whale Valley area’s presence in the region has contributed to more than 10,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
On his part, Dr Ali Abu Sunna has expressed his happiness with the visit of Her Royal Highness of Jordan, Princess Alia bint Al-Hussein, to Wadi Hitan Sanctuary, which contains a unique treasure of fossils dating back millions of years, was classified in 2005 as a World Heritage Site, and UNESCO announced it as the best world heritage site for whale skeletons.
According to the updates, the visit of Jordanian Princess Alia Bint Al-Hussein was also accompanied by a number of government officials such as Dr Mohamed Imad, Deputy Governor of Fayoum, Dr Mohamed Salem, Head of the Nature Protection Sector of the Ministry of Environment, Dr Mohamed Al-Touni, Deputy Governor, Dr Amir Khalil representing Four Paws International.
Along with that, Mr Merrick Trila, General Manager of the Sanctuary in the Hashemia Kingdom of Jordan, and several leaders of the Ministry of the Environment and those interested in the conservation sector.