SOS Tartarugas works in Cape Verde protecting nesting loggerheads turtles (Caretta caretta) and their habitat. Cape Verde is the third most important nesting area for loggerheads in the world. Turtles are at risk from hunting for meat, stealing of eggs, removal of sand for building and unregulated tourism development. Our email is info@turtlesos.org.
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Monday, July 6, 2009

Hunters out in force

The last week has been a running battle with hunters. Our usual military support has been missing due to money not being released from the DGA (Dept of Environment) and the Camara Municipal. Even though we wanted to give what money we could, this was not accepted. Without this extra support the beaches are too long for us to control alone. So far ten turtles have been taken to our knowledge and it is sometimes only luck that helps us to be in the right place at the right time. This turtle was only moments from death when we found a track, running towards the hunters we were in time to scare them away. Unfortunately the police in Santa Maria who are doing all they can to help us are so under-resourced that they do not have transport to assist us. All the Rangers are working extra patrols until we get some support and many people have stepped forward to volunteer.

1 comment:

  1. Nicole D - TorontoJuly 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM

    OMG thats unbelievble! Where I volunteered in May on Playa Soropta in Panama many leatherbacks were being killed for their meat and eggs. Fortunately since the beach was being patrolled zero leatherbacks have been killed. I pray that many people will have the resources to come forward and volunteer to help patrol the beach and keep the poachers away! It is shocking to me to see this angel on her back awaiting to be killed!

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