Costa Fragata is ready now!

What a difference a few hours of picking up rubbish makes.  The south end of Costa Fragata was such an eyesore before the group of expat volunteers cleaned it up yesterday.  Thanks to Linda, Peter, Nathan, Betania, Janice, Rosi, Marta, Sarah, Holly, Jeanette, Nicky, Cheryl, Gemma, Sarah, Sean, Tony & family, Neal.  The dogs were a bit overenthusiastic but other than that it was a great morning! 




Before : completely covered in plastic bottles and bags and fishing net

After: Nice safe place to nest

Destined for the cooking pot ......

We love happy endings and we especially love stories that end with turtles going back in the sea instead of in the cooking pot!

By a happy coincidence a resident of Santiago heard on the radio an item about the Taola Nha Terra campaign and shortly met a neighbour who had acquired a turtle and didn't know what to do with it.

We contacted the Nha Terra campaign coordinator in Santiago, Peace Corps Volunteer, Jon Berg, who, on finding no one in authority was available, jumped in a car and headed north to see what was going on.

The first in her family to take a ride in a car

It turned out that a resident of Achada de Punta, purchased the juvenile green turtle from a fisherman for 1000$ CVE (€10/£6) in order to set him free.  The turtle almost certainly was going to be dinner at some point had she not done this.  Having obtained the turtle she didn't know what the best thing to do for the turtle's welfare was.

Happily Jon was able to release it on the beach in Pedra Badejo.

Heading back to the sea at Pedra Badejo

Even better, the lovely lady is also keen to start a sea turtle conservation group in her town!   Stories like these really show that the tide is turning in favour of conserving turtles, even in small rural communities.

You know the turtle season has started when.....

.....  your phone rings at all kinds of odd times of day. 

Yesterday early in the morning Nicky Salvini phoned me to say that her sister, Patrizia was on the beach of Costa Fragata and thought she had found something that looked like a turtle track.  Rushing over there I met Pat on her way back.  From what she described (scoops in out of the sand going round in circles and back down to the water) it could only be one thing.  Our first track of the season! 

Up track

This is the earliest track we have recorded on Sal and fooled almost everyone who entered our sweepstake competition.  Everyone that is, except Betania, the first Ranger to arrive, who correctly guessed that the first turtle would show up on the same day as she did!  Instead of having the honour of the first nest in the hatchery, Betania has chosen a head-torch as her prize since she forgot to bring her own (whoops!)

There was no nest, the turtle only had a bit of a wander around, but we anticipate finding either another track or a nest this morning in the same area.

The dogs help to identify the down track

The hatchery's up, the turtles must be near

In a stunning display of speed, strength and organisational skills this tiny SOS Tartarugas team built the main hatchery in record time.

From nothing to completely built in only two hours.  Amazing!  It normally takes us the best part of two days.

What's the secret Peter?

More photos here.

"Nha Terra" campaign launched in Praia

The island of Santiago is the largest consumer of turtle meat and illegal imports from other islands is common.

To counter this, this summer there will be a large scale awareness campaign to alert the population to the fact that turtles are on the brink of extinction in Cabo Verde.  The campaign comprises of public events in Praia, São Francisco, Ciadade Velha, Tarrafal, Pedra Badjo, Calheta & Assomoda.

In addition, workshops for the authorities (Police, port authorities, airport security, Câmara Municipais & judiciary) to discuss the laws relating to turtles and to encourage more rigorous application.

The theme of the campaign "Nha Terra" focuses on turtles being a part of the country's heritage and important to preserve for future generations.  In addition they are migratory, just like a large percentage of the Capeverdean population and they have a right to return to a safe place to give birth.

The campaign was launched in Praia by the batukaderas of Delta Cultura (Tarrafal, Santiago) who have written a special song to support the campaign.

A big week for turtles

As the annual Taola (Capeverdean Sea Turtle Network) meeting in Praia gets underway, news also reached us about the first nest of the 2012 season. 

It was laid in Ervatão a beach in Boa Vista on the 25th May.  Although nests in May are not completely unheard of, it is pretty early.  We weren't really expecting to see any tracks until the second week of June!

So we have quickly got ourselves organised and started day time patrols to look for tracks and on Thursday the main hatchery will be built.  Usually we would have some Rangers here already to help but in all three previous years the turtles haven't turned up until after we have been patrolling for what seems like weeks!  Naturally the year we decide to start working a little later, the turtles get here earlier!

The first Rangers arrive at the end of the this week, so we should soon be up and running.

The famous SOS Turtle Predication Sweepstake

How to play:

a) Take a look at the map of Sal and decide which beach you think the first turtle track will be seen by SOS Tartarugas.  Remember the letter.  (Click map to enlarge)
b) Decide which day you think it will be seen.  Remember the date.  (Hint: Unlikely to be before June 1st and if it is after June 21st there are going to be some very bored SOS Rangers by then!)
c) Email or post here your beach letter and date.
d) Donate €2 to the cause
e) Collect your prize which consists of a brand new SOS cotton bag and the honour of adopting the very first nest in the hatchery in 2011.

Good luck!

PS You have to get the date and beach correct to win and judge's decision is final!