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 11, 2011

Speculation about the season so far...

Those who read our blog or Facebook page regularly will know that we have been experiencing an unusually low number of nests & tracks this year.

The recording of tracks on Sal is only now beginning to be more regular and the total number of nests laid at the start of July would be low even for the start of June!

Our colleagues on other islands are experiencing the same low numbers. 

In Boa Vista, Natura 2000, who have been collecting data on loggerhead nesting for 13 years have told us that they have not seen this kind of low activity in all the time they have been here.

We all hope it is only a delay in the start of the season, perhaps due to the cold water around Cabo Verde right now (colder than usual) or maybe even a cold spring in the feeding grounds where the loggerheads spend their time before they come here to nest.

Fingers crossed that that is all it is and not some major disaster that has disrupted nesting in this important area.
Paulo, Holley & Betânia are delighted to find a nest on Serra Negra

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