This is Shellie

Shellie was tagged by Stephen and Faye on 25th July 2009 (Tag numbers YYY726 & YYY727) on Costa Fragata where she nested (not in a very good place so the nest was moved trans situ). She was seen three more times in the same area where she nested twice. Then she was brutally killed at Serra Negra on the 28th September. She was quite small so it was probably her first or second nesting season meaning her potential for increasing the turtle population is now lost. It is becoming clear that relatively small size is an indication that not many of Cabo Verde's nesting turtles make it past a third season. Shellie's final nest on Costa Fragata will be hatching soon - we will do our best at least to make sure her hatchlings make it into the sea.

The killing continues

Unfortunately all this rain has impacted the turtles as well. For various reasons our friends in the military have not been on the beaches for around ten days and it seems that the hunters are well aware of this. This week we have lost one turtle in Serra Negra and one the night before last on Costa Fragata, a stone's throw from Santa Maria. On Saturday night when João was with a group of guests out for turtle walk near Paradise Beach he found tell tale drag mark which told him there was a turtle about to be killed. Sure enough, the hunters were there with the turtle and claimed that it was their turtle and they were entitled to kill it and João as well if he interfered. Standing his ground João (and his group who bravely stayed as well) the turtle was saved and returned to the sea. She was named Suerte (Luck) and happily she nested two nights later in the same area. Not so lucky for the other two. However much we patrol we cannot be everywhere at once and when a turtle is killed there is a great sense of loss in our group and also a feeling of responsibility.

Rain in Sal

Rain is destroying the beaches and the town at the moment. The entire beach profile has changed and we suspect that many nests will have been washed into the sea. A particular area of concern is Serra Negra where the beach is narrow and a lot of rain will flow directly from the mountain, causing deep gullies and rifts. Because of the risk of lightning strikes, for the first time, our Rangers were unable to patrol last night but we did manage to get to the hatcheries and find some crazy baby turtles who chose the stormy night to make an appearance!

Hatchlings will be born today

We have excavations at both hatcheries today which means you will probably see newly born turtle babies. 4.3opm at Riu Hatchery and 5pm at Surf Beach Hatchery.

Latest figures

It's still turning out to be a bumper year here in Sal. As of the 5th September we have 2,908 tracks (compared to a total of 1,238 in 2008), 689 nests (compared to 347 for all of 2008) and we have tagged 260 turtles (compared to 101 last year). Unfortunately, we still have turtles being killed. On protected beaches 1% of turtle emergences end in death compared to a terrible 15% on the northern beaches which we are unable to patrol. At least the mortality rate for the protected beaches is in decline (it was 1.71% last year) but it is still too much.

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.