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, March 29, 2010

Extinction? We just can't see it.

Travelling around Belize, a country that has protected 40% of it's land from development and created numerous national parks, it's hard not to make a comparison with where we live.  A country that is similar in size and equally rich in biodiversity but has a paltry number of protected areas. 

Coincendentally I read an article in The Times by Simon Barnes that really hit a chord.  He states that 'Species are going extinct because humans can't see it happening.  It is as simple as that.  Believing the elephant will no longer be around is like believing that one day the sun will rise in the west and the stars will fall as rain.'

It's exactly like that in Cabo Verde.  Turtles have been coming to these islands for generations and it seems that very few people believe that will ever change.  On Sal around 20% of nesting loggerheads are illegally killed each year, so based on the estimated total that means we will see the end of nesting turtles in only SEVEN YEARS.

Extinction is a happening thing and it is happening all around us and right on our doorstep.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

How light affects turtle hatchlings

A very good report on how to minimise light disturbance to turtle hatchlings published by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute.

http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=2156

Thursday, March 4, 2010