Turtle Patrol
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Martin S
Turtle Patrol
Had fantastic two week holiday staying at Bucco, evreything was great except when we went to watch the Turtles at Turtle Beach. Who or what are the Turtle Patrol, we were one of the first to arrive at about 10pm to see a large Leatherback just coming out of the sea next to the carpark, the guy's from turtle patrol were not even interested but were straight onto their mobile phones. Within minutes there were cars and even a bus full of onlookers arriving. Turtle patrol let them get far too close to the poor turtle and constantly going up to the turtle with torches to see if she was laying eggs (I know animals cannot see infra-red light but they used ordinary torches with red glass)but worst of all as soon as she had stopped laying and only just started to cover the eggs they let everyone go right up to the poor creature in the end she looked like she was in the middle of a rugby scrum. We left before she had to force her way through the crowd, to me this was a very sad scene I will be coming back to Tobago but not to turtle watch
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Cathy Williams
Re: Turtle Patrol
Can I suggest that you take a look at the following link
http://www.scsoft.de/et/et2.nsf/KAP1VIEW or google Environment Tobago or SOS (Save Our Seaturtles). You will find some interesting reading there regarding the Turtle Patrol and the actual laying of eggs by these gentle giants. The turtle apparently is unaware of her surroundings while actually laying the eggs. The patrols provided by these two groups are essential in the preservation of these turtles. Properly done, they provide visitors with an excellent opportunity to witness this wonderful event. They have even gone as far as to recruit security folks from the hotels to participate and encourage 'proper' behaviour when the turtles approach the beach. Sadly I've seen one turtle come up on Grafton Beach in mid afternoon, only to have a silly tourist (a women yet!) run down and jump on her back while shouting at her husband "take my picture!!". This ruined the chance for many young children on the beach to witness a wonderful event.(mine included). The organization will also put you on a call list to be woken up to go a view if you so desire......keeping in mind that young children are hard to wake at 2 a.m.!! lol Mine are teens now and have thankfully had this great experience since the 'silly' woman on the beach. On another note a very dear friend of mine Wendy Herron should be applauded with her ongoing fight to protect and save this extinct creature. At one time it was common place to see the discarded carcass / shell of the turtle left on the beach with a splattering of blood all around and the locals like their 'wild' meat.....turtle being one of them. Thanks to Wendy and the above organizations....it's becoming less common and people have been educated. I hope that you do read the articles and learn some more of these amazing creatures.
Cheers
Cathy
http://www.scsoft.de/et/et2.nsf/KAP1VIEW or google Environment Tobago or SOS (Save Our Seaturtles). You will find some interesting reading there regarding the Turtle Patrol and the actual laying of eggs by these gentle giants. The turtle apparently is unaware of her surroundings while actually laying the eggs. The patrols provided by these two groups are essential in the preservation of these turtles. Properly done, they provide visitors with an excellent opportunity to witness this wonderful event. They have even gone as far as to recruit security folks from the hotels to participate and encourage 'proper' behaviour when the turtles approach the beach. Sadly I've seen one turtle come up on Grafton Beach in mid afternoon, only to have a silly tourist (a women yet!) run down and jump on her back while shouting at her husband "take my picture!!". This ruined the chance for many young children on the beach to witness a wonderful event.(mine included). The organization will also put you on a call list to be woken up to go a view if you so desire......keeping in mind that young children are hard to wake at 2 a.m.!! lol Mine are teens now and have thankfully had this great experience since the 'silly' woman on the beach. On another note a very dear friend of mine Wendy Herron should be applauded with her ongoing fight to protect and save this extinct creature. At one time it was common place to see the discarded carcass / shell of the turtle left on the beach with a splattering of blood all around and the locals like their 'wild' meat.....turtle being one of them. Thanks to Wendy and the above organizations....it's becoming less common and people have been educated. I hope that you do read the articles and learn some more of these amazing creatures.
Cheers
Cathy
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David Watkins
- Bude Cool Boy
- Posts: 1990
- Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2003 12:12 pm
- Location: Bude Cornwall uk
- Contact:
Re: Turtle Patrol
Cathy,you are very correct.Without education how can people from diverse worlds understand the beauty and the hazards that these creatures face,The "stupid woman" at Grafton should have suffered scorn from her companions.
The Turtle Watch,is exactly as it says,it watches for these magnificent creatures to come ashore and displays them to a population that will have an experience of a lifetime.
Imagine your children going back to school and describing,showing photos and videos.....what better way to protect these animals?
David
The Turtle Watch,is exactly as it says,it watches for these magnificent creatures to come ashore and displays them to a population that will have an experience of a lifetime.
Imagine your children going back to school and describing,showing photos and videos.....what better way to protect these animals?
David
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Martin S
Re: Turtle Patrol
Hi Cathy
I read the artical you said and totaly agree that these magestic creatures need to be protected but I think far more needs to be done before it is too late. I know the turtles are in a kind of trance as they lay their eggs but the people wre only about 5 to 6 metres away (most wildlife groups recomend at least twice tis distance) and you could see the animals were disturbed by the constant lights being shone on them. After the turtle had finished laying the people were aloud to get as close as they wanted some people even touching the poor thing (first rule of wildlife look but do not touch). The debate could go on and on about the best way to protect the tutrles but at the end of the day what is more inportant than leaving them in total piece to lay their eggs where they have done for hundreds of years.
I read the artical you said and totaly agree that these magestic creatures need to be protected but I think far more needs to be done before it is too late. I know the turtles are in a kind of trance as they lay their eggs but the people wre only about 5 to 6 metres away (most wildlife groups recomend at least twice tis distance) and you could see the animals were disturbed by the constant lights being shone on them. After the turtle had finished laying the people were aloud to get as close as they wanted some people even touching the poor thing (first rule of wildlife look but do not touch). The debate could go on and on about the best way to protect the tutrles but at the end of the day what is more inportant than leaving them in total piece to lay their eggs where they have done for hundreds of years.