Wild Abu Dhabi
Looking for life in unconventional places
I recently returned from a two week journey exploring the deserts, mangroves, and wild edges of Abu Dhabi with my dear friend and project partner Grace Cordsen. The project focused on life in overlooked places, showing that wild animals are living all around us, even at the edge of cities. It connects closely to my non-profit Kogia’s mission to build appreciation and empathy for the natural world.
One evening we booked a small self driving boat tour and asked the guide to take us toward the mangroves instead of the skyline. In the distance stood flamingos, my first time seeing them in the wild. There is less than a minute when the sun aligns perfectly, but flamingos spend most of their time with their heads down foraging. As Grace piloted the boat, I lay flat in the boat, waiting for a single bird to lift its head at the exact moment the sun slipped behind it.
Later in the trip we turned onto a winding desert road and eventually got stuck in deep sand. That inconvenience led us to a group of men training their falcons at sunset. They welcomed us into their session, where remote controlled planes and drones were used to train the birds. It was a striking intersection of ancient heritage and modern technology.
Abu Dhabi reminded us that wilderness is not always far away. Sometimes it exists right beside the city.
You can see a wider selection of images from the trip right below:
