GIANT LEATHERBACK TURTLES NESTING SITE AT GREAT COURLAND BAY

[Peter Cox]

FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AN AMERICAN FILM COMPANY MTV HAS BEEN OCCUPYING A PART OF THE BEACH,THEY ARE BY ALL REPORTS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS,NOT ON BEHALF OF THE TURTLES THAT ARE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED,BUT A MOVIE CALLED 'THE GAUNTLET'.
GREAT COURLAND BAY IS THE PREMIER NESTING BEACH IN TOBAGO,MTV's STAGE CONSTRUCTED ON TOP OF EXISTING NEST'S AND POTENTIAL NESTING AREAS,APPROXIMATELY EIGHT NEST THAT WOULD CONSIST OF AN AVERAGE EIGHTY-FIVE EGGS EACH IS GOING TO BE LOST.POTENTIAL NESTING TURTLES ARE NOW NESTING WITH GREAT DIFFICULTIES POSED BY THIS VERY INSENSITIVE DECISION BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO GRANTED 'MTV' PERMISSION TO USE THE SITE FOR THEIR BUSINESS,THE ISSUE HAS RECIEVED A LOT OF LOCAL INTEREST,AND IS STILL BEING DICUSSED EITHER FOR OR AGAINST,I HAVE BEEN ON LOCAL TELEVISION TWICE TO SPEAK FOR THE TURTLES.THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO JUSTIFY THEIR DECISION,HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOT OF MISLEADING STATEMENTS TO DILIBERATELY CON THE GENERAL PUBLIC INTO BELIEVING NOTHING IS WRONG AT COURLAND BAY,THIS MORNING I GOT A TOURIST TO RECORD FOR ME THE IMPRESSIONS OF A LEATHERBACK THAT NESTED THE NIGHT BEFORE,A DILIBERATE ATTEMPT WAS MADE BY SOME ONE OR PERSONS TO COVER UP THE TRACKS,U CAN SEE ON THE TAPE HOW THAT TURTLE JAMMED HER FLIPPERS INTO 'MTV's EQUIPTMENTS,I AM HOPING TO GO BACK IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY ON THE LOCAL TELEVISION WITH THIS INFORMATION,IN THE MEANTIME WHATEVER CAN BE DONE INTERNATIONALLY TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON 'MTV' WILL BE WELLCOME.ONCE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.

MANY THANKS

PETER COX.

[Steve Wooler]

Thanks Peter

This situation is very disturbing. I posted Peter's original report of the situation in our General forum, to give it wider exposure than here in the Sightseeing forum. The main thread http://www.mytobago.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2615 is available

I would appreciate follow-ups in that thread to avoid the discussion becoming too disjointed.