f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013
f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013
f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013
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The <strong>Tobago</strong><br />
experience<br />
Edison Boodoosingh/trinimages.com<br />
Turtle Watching in <strong>Tobago</strong><br />
Leatherback Turtle<br />
by Tanya Clovis<br />
<strong>Tobago</strong> is<br />
currently blessed<br />
with a small but<br />
critical nesting<br />
population <strong>of</strong><br />
the endangered<br />
l e a t h e r b a c k ,<br />
hawksbill <strong>and</strong><br />
green marine<br />
turtles on our beaches during the months<br />
<strong>of</strong> March to September. Possibly an even<br />
smaller population <strong>of</strong> equally vulnerable<br />
hawksbills <strong>and</strong> greens call our <strong>of</strong>fshore<br />
waters their home, year round.<br />
During the peak months <strong>of</strong> nesting<br />
season, the volunteers <strong>and</strong> staff <strong>of</strong> Save<br />
Our Sea Turtles (SOS) <strong>Tobago</strong> patrol three<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong>’s busiest leatherback nesting<br />
beaches in the greater Black Rock area<br />
in attempts to learn more about these<br />
elusive giants <strong>of</strong> the sea.<br />
This coordinated patrol effort began<br />
in 2000 as the natural evolution <strong>of</strong> the<br />
individual protective efforts made during<br />
the eighties <strong>and</strong> nineties in response<br />
to the high levels <strong>of</strong> poaching taking<br />
place on these beaches. While consistent<br />
patrols have now reduced poaching<br />
significantly, the threat <strong>of</strong> harassment<br />
by well meaning but over zealous turtle<br />
watchers has increased with the growing<br />
popularity <strong>of</strong> turtle-watching tours.<br />
Eco-tourism is a key component <strong>of</strong><br />
any sustainable conservation effort on a<br />
small, tourist-oriented isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> turtle<br />
watching is an incredible experience for<br />
visitors <strong>and</strong> residents alike. A few basic<br />
guidelines can ensure that your presence<br />
enhances the quality <strong>of</strong> the experience for<br />
all…especially for the mother turtle.<br />
Give nesting turtles <strong>and</strong> hatchlings lots<br />
<strong>of</strong> space. A recommended 20 m (60 ft.)<br />
from a female just approaching the beach<br />
gives her lots <strong>of</strong> room to pick a safe spot to<br />
dig her nest; a crowded turtle can be less<br />
discerning <strong>and</strong> end up digging below the<br />
high-tide line or ab<strong>and</strong>oning the nesting<br />
process all together.<br />
Once she is laying, a closer look is<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten possible with the guidance <strong>of</strong> the<br />
patrollers, but if a turtle seems particularly<br />
jumpy or a crowd is uncooperative, moving<br />
in closer may not be permitted.<br />
Hatchlings are hard to see <strong>and</strong> therefore<br />
easy to step on at night especially if they<br />
are disoriented by onshore lights <strong>and</strong><br />
scattered all over the beach. Give the<br />
patrollers room to gather them all together<br />
so that they can be safely relocated to a<br />
darker part <strong>of</strong> the beach for release.<br />
During the nesting season, many <strong>of</strong> our<br />
beaches are quietly incubating hundreds<br />
<strong>of</strong> delicate turtle eggs. Refrain from driving<br />
on the beach, sticking beach umbrellas in<br />
the s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> creating bonfires as these<br />
activities can crush or cook the eggs.<br />
S<strong>and</strong> castles should be encouraged below<br />
the high-water mark where there is less<br />
chance <strong>of</strong> accidentally disrupting a nest.<br />
Wear dark clothes, move quietly <strong>and</strong><br />
refrain from flash photography. Sometimes<br />
even the illuminated screen <strong>of</strong> a cell phone<br />
or video camera can be disorienting to a<br />
turtle or hatchlings trying to find their way<br />
back to sea on a dark beach. Patrollers<br />
<strong>and</strong> guides may use a subdued light from<br />
behind the turtle while she is laying to<br />
illuminate the nest cavity for viewing <strong>and</strong><br />
to record data.<br />
If you are staying in a beachfront<br />
establishment, ask management about<br />
their turtle-friendly policies <strong>and</strong> encourage<br />
the reduction <strong>of</strong> beachfront lighting.<br />
On a dark beach on a dark night,<br />
nesting turtles can be hard to see to the<br />
untrained eye but they are very sensitive<br />
to light, movement <strong>and</strong> sound, so if you<br />
are walking up <strong>and</strong> down the beach on<br />
your own, the turtle can be scared <strong>of</strong>f<br />
before you even realise that she is there. It<br />
is essential therefore, to go with a certified<br />
tour guide who works with the SOS patrol<br />
team. There is a partial list <strong>of</strong> guides on<br />
our Web site <strong>and</strong> feel free to contact<br />
us directly if in doubt. Even on a good<br />
turtle-watching tour, a nesting or hatching<br />
event is never absolutely guaranteed but<br />
a good guide can make it a magical night<br />
out, under the stars on <strong>Tobago</strong>’s most<br />
beautiful beaches.<br />
SOS <strong>Tobago</strong><br />
Web site: www.sos-tobago.org<br />
E-Mail: info@sos-tobago.org<br />
Mobile: (868) 290-3797<br />
158<br />
The <strong>Ins</strong> & <strong>Outs</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Trinidad</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tobago</strong>