marsh arab boat
Saddam Hussein had the Mesopotamian Marshes drained, leaving only desert and remnants of the past, like this abandoned Marsh Arab boat.
Saddam Hussein had the Mesopotamian Marshes drained, leaving only desert and remnants of the past, like this abandoned Marsh Arab boat.
dr azzam alwash
Dr. Azzam Alwash, director of marsh restoration project Nature Iraq, holds a soft-shelled turtle, a sign of returning life.
Dr. Azzam Alwash, director of marsh restoration project Nature Iraq, holds a soft-shelled turtle, a sign of returning life.
marsh arab
A Marsh Arab woman unloads freshly cut reeds in a healing habitat.
A Marsh Arab woman unloads freshly cut reeds in a healing habitat.
fishermen
Marsh Arab fishermen
Marsh Arab fishermen
houses
Traditional Marsh Arab reed houses
Traditional Marsh Arab reed houses
aerial
Ariel view of the Mesopotamian Marshes
Ariel view of the Mesopotamian Marshes
water buffalo
Water buffalo bathing in the wetlands
Water buffalo bathing in the wetlands
reed-warbler
The rare and indigenous Basra reed-warbler nests in the marshlands, a sign of success for the restoration project.
The rare and indigenous Basra reed-warbler nests in the marshlands, a sign of success for the restoration project.
dragonfly
A dragonfly balances momentarily on a reed.
A dragonfly balances momentarily on a reed.
egrets
Egrets resting in the wetlands
Egrets resting in the wetlands
flamingos
A flock of greater flamingos
A flock of greater flamingos
frog
A marsh frog peeks above the water's surface.
A marsh frog peeks above the water's surface.
kingfisher
A kingfisher perches in a reed bed.
A kingfisher perches in a reed bed.
herons
Squacco herons have returned to the restored wetlands to nest.
Squacco herons have returned to the restored wetlands to nest.
Photos by Stephen Foote and David Johnson / © Stephen Foote, David Johnson, and Aqua Vita Films and WNET.ORG Properties LLC
