Stimulating conservation in Maio

One of our experienced Rangers, Joao Gouveia was in Ilha do Maio recently. It was his second visit to the island, the first was made to determine what kind of support was needed. On this three week long trip the objective was to try to stimulate a more cohesive programme of turtle protection that encompasses patrols, data collection and outreach activity.

Maio probably has the second largest population of nesting loggerhead turtles in Cabo Verde and while there are many willing hands, they have very limited resources and training.

Joao reported that his visit was very productive, "from the very start I felt that people really wanted our help and were glad that we were there. Sometimes we did not have the means to do a complete job, but we did manage a four day census of all the beaches, many of which are extremely remote." We now also have a better understanding of the major nesting areas with GPS positions, lengths and nesting suitability factors.

Joao, with the assistance of the Camara Municipal Maio brought together groups of people to participate in camping and patrolling. Socialising and working seriously with the turtles was a very positive experience for everyone. Several workshops were attended by marine biology students, representatives of other NGOs and local community members.

Although it was a very successful trip, there is still a great deal to do. In particular the guards who patrol beaches to deter hunters need more training and more equipment. We hope to be able to enhance this work in 2010 by training and employing a 'local expert' in Maio who will be able to provide support and training.

Joao was representing the newly formed Capeverdian Sea Turtle Network and his trip was funded by the US Fish & WIldlife Marine Turtle Conservation Fund.

First hatchlings born

It started slowly, with just one lone hatchling emerging from Nest 2 on the 21st August, 59 days after the nest was laid on Black Sand Beach (at the northern end of Algodoeiro on the west coast). This was quickly followed by Nest 1 and then oddly, Nest 50. In the end, Nest 1 produced 58 hatchlings and Nest 2, 79. Nest 2 was exceptional as we had 100% success - 79 hatchlings from 79 eggs! A rare thing in both hatchery and nests left on the beach. Nest 50 is interesting as well as the eggs were recovered from a nest on the Riu dune that had been uncovered by the very high tide. No one had any idea about the hatch date as we did not know exactly when the nest was laid. So far we have had 34 hatchlings from that nest.

Hillary Clinton on Sal

She came, she chatted about turtles, what else is there to say!!

Essential equipment

The simplest things are hard to get here. All the islands need more equipment to help their turtle conservation projects. If you are coming to Cabo Verde or can send us anything, here are the things we need :
Head torches with red lamp only £ 12.69 (€14) (http://www.screwfix.com/prods/44398/Lighting-Lamps/Torches-Task-Lighting/Torches/Energizer-HeadLight-3-x-AAA-Torch?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-TORCH-_-44398)
1 million candlewatt rechargeable torches £ 10.89 (€12) (http://www.screwfix.com/prods/23056/Lighting-Lamps/Torches-Task-Lighting/Torches/1-Million-Candle-Spot-JML2939-1-x-4Ah-Torch)
Tailor's tape measures (metric measurements marked in black)
Unlocked mobile phones
Two man and four man tents
Oh and a new quad bike. Thanks!

Community efforts in Sao Nicolau

It was a pleasure to be invited to Sao Nicolau to participate in two training camps to give information on how tag turtles and collect data. The activities were arranged by INDP (Fisheries institute) via the two Camara Municipals. INDP have been working in Sao Nicolau for several years with the objective of creating turtle conservation programmes that are in the hands of the community. This approach is very different from our project in Sal where, for several reasons, we have found it much harder to engage the communities. In the area around Tarrafal the Camara Municipal pays guards to stay at the beach to deter hunting and monitor nests and on the eastern side, the other CM is starting to mobilise volunteers.
The programme really works, with hunting now a very limited problem, but unfortunately, the big problem is the destruction of beaches and loss of habitat. Many of the beaches have been completely stripped of sand for construction, which means the turtles are concentrated in small and often unsuitable beaches. We stayed at two beaches, Porto do Lapa in the east and Baixo Rocha in the west and it was fantastic to meet so many people who are motivated to save turtles in their island. Beach access is much more difficult than on Sal and guards have to hike or go by boat to get to work. All that is needed now is a bit of training and some equipment and support. Our trip was on behalf of the newly formed Capeverdian Sea Turtle Network, with a grant from US Fish & Wildlife Service with logistical support by the Camara Municipals from Tarrafal and Ribeira Brava.

How it all began...

We arrived on Sal in mid-June in 2007, Neal had a job with Manta Diving and Jacquie had a vague idea about making a film to do with turtles. Walking on the beaches it soon became clear that there was a big problem since the only turtles we saw were dead turtles. In the meantime, Juan Blanco, the manager of ScubaCaribe had started a hatchery outside the dive centre (with the help of Natura 2000) in an effort to try to save some of the nests. Once Juan and Jacquie met things started to move swiftly, the Camara Municipal do Sal had a protection programme with soldiers running already but were keen to get help and the environmental technician quickly joined the group. Our progress would have been a lot slower had it not been for a series of coincidences. Matthias Schmelz, a visitor to the island became incensed when he saw a restaurant with many turtles packed into a concrete tank for public display - so incensed that he took matters into his own hands and put the turtles in the sea. Although it hardly seems feasible, he was arrested! Matthias was working with Patricia, who is married to Nuno who is the owner of Manta Diving, so in this way we also got to hear about the incident. Matthias and Jacquie met and Matthias decided that he would support our project with a generous grant spread out over almost two years. This committment gave us the confidence to move forward and there is no doubt that without it things would have moved much more slowly and we could not have achieved the results we did in 2008. Matthias's company, Rainbow manufactures revolutionary vacuum cleaners http://www.rainbow-portugal.com/website/

Sal girls

ALICE, AMBER, ANA, ANDREIA, ANILDO, ANN, ANTICLIMAX, APRIL, BELLA, BETELGEUSE, BETTIE, BOUNCE, BRIDGET, CALEHTINA, CANSADA, CARAPACA, CARRIE, CAT, CHOUCHOU, CONNIE, COXA, DANCING QUEEN, DANN, DAVID, DEMI, DIANA, DONNA, DUMBO, EAGER BEAVER, EDWINA, FIN, FLIPPER, FORGET-ME-YES, FORTUNATA, FREDA, GEORGIA, GOOD MORNING, GRACIE, GUISMO, HAPPY DAZE, HELENA, HIDE AND GO PEEK, HOPE, HUMPHREY, INES, IORWEN, JA JA, JACQUIE, JENNY, JESSICA, JORANE, JOX, JULIA, JULIET, KAT, KATIE, KATLIJN, KRISTA, LAIDA, LILLI, LILY, LIZ, LOLITA, LOUISA, LUA, LUCY, LUKE SKYWALKER, LUNA, LUNIA, MANUELA, MARGARET, MARIEL, MEREDITH, MILHO, MINOLO, MISS FLETCHER, MORLA, MORNING GLORY, MUM, MUPPET, NEMO, NO STRESS, OMERO, ONE-EYED-WILLY, PANDA, PATRICIA, PENELOPE, PERSISTENCE, PHOEBE, QUICKIE, RAMBO, REALLY, RITA, ROCKY, ROUNDER, SAGGY, SAVED, SCARAPACE, SHELLIE, SHOOTING STAR, SLEEPING BEAUTY, SLUMP-BUSTER, SONIA, SOPHIE, SPARKY, STARDUST, STEWIE, STUBBY, SURI, SURROUNDED, SUSY, TECA, THE JOKER, TILLY, TINA, TITECA, TOO FAST TO LOVE, TORTUE NINJA, TOUCHE, TURTLE A, TURTLE B, URSA, VANDA, VERONICA, WILFRED, WILLY, YANN
Some of the turtles who entrusted their eggs to the SOS Rangers on Sal this year - there are many more who were too quick to get their jewellery and names. One eyed Willy - only your mother (and Joe) could love you.

Calheta Funda Three - Free at last

Congratulations to all involved from the Camara Municipal do Sal and the Maritime Police on the liberation of three loggerhead yearlings who have been kept in captivity and displayed in Calheta Funda. You can see how happy the police delegate is! The turtles were in good shape so three of the rangers carried them beyond the surf zone to make sure they got well away from the shore. The little turtles are finally back where they belong! More photos http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120636&id=526154523&l=3c37593058

1,000 and rising

In only 7 weeks we have already counted more thank 1,000 turtle tracks. Astonishing when you consider that in the whole of last season (4 months) we only had 1,200! As 2008 was our first season, it is impossible to know whether that was a low year and this is normal or that was a normal year and this is an unusual year.