Boa Vista Experience

[turtlefoundation]

Turtle Foundation is thrilled to announce the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the form of a Marine Turtle Conservation Fund grant of $45,000 for the Cape Verde Sea Turtle Observatory.

The CVSTO is a coalition task force formed to protect Cape Verde's endangered sea turtles, particularly Loggerhead turtles, with the aim of working together to address national policy, habitat protection, reduction of poaching, sea turtle research, education, and tourist development while conserving and protecting Cape Verde's sea turtles. This coalition consists of local and foreign NGO's including Turtle Foundation, Natura 2000, and SOS Tartarugas; research institutions such as Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas of Spain and Universidade do Algarve of Portugal; and Cape Verde government institutions, particularly the Ministries of Environment, Land Planning and Marine Resources, of Education and Graduate Studies, and of National Administration.

Turtle Foundation and all the organizations in the coalition are committed to working with and supporting the local communities in a process that benefits both the communities and the turtles.

If you have read previous posts about our work, you know we have been involved in community educational presentations and school programs as well as beach patrols to prevent the brutal slaughter of the turtles as they come ashore to nest. Our work will continue for this next school year and the 2009 nesting season which begins in June. I will keep you posted on our activities as we gear up for the nesting season.

You can find more information on our conservation work in Cape Verde and elsewhere at www.turtle-foundation.org. Thanks!

Reisa Latorra
Turtle Foundation USA
www.turtle-foundation.org
_________________
"And turtles, of course, all the turtles are free
As turtles, and maybe, all creatures should be"

[jak]

Dear Reisa,

thank you for the update regarding the protection of turtles on Boa Vista. It is good to see that grants are being awarded for the protection of these creatures.

I hope that all visitors to Boa Vista will appreciate that they are visiting an island that is potentially crucial to the survival of these ancient animals. I would be grateful to have more information on how visitors can become more involved in helping to preserve the turtle nesting sites on Boa Vista. I am hoping to visit Boa Vista later this year with my teenage daughter and she would love to get involved in the turtle conservation project.

Regards,

John Dowling

[turtlefoundation]

Hi John,
We really appreciate your support and the information you've posted about turtle conservation efforts on Boa Vista. Turtle Foundation is actually currently accepting applications to volunteer with our protection program for the nesting season this summer. The link to the application and information is at:
http://www.turtle-foundation.org/Waskannichtun/AktiveMitarbeit/tabid/154/Default.aspx

The application asks for a 4-week commitment, but if you are going to Boa Vista anyway but won't be able to work on the project that long I'm sure there are ways you both can help for even a few days. Feel free to send an email to info@turtle-foundation.org, and I will also send you the Project Manager's email address and you can contact him directly about your schedule and how you can participate. Thanks again for your support and interest!!!

Reisa Latorra
Turtle Foundation
_________________
"And turtles, of course, all the turtles are free
As turtles, and maybe, all creatures should be"

[jak]

The first tracks seen by members of SOS were in Maio on the 17th June but some tracks were seen earlier in Boa Vista. Here in Sal the first tracks were seen on the night of the 18th June on 'Black Sand Beach' (Zone N). It was a false crawl with no nest. Since then we have had another three tracks but still no nest. Compared to last year this is a bit of a slow start.

So unfortunately, the sweepstake was not won as nobody guessed the right day AND the right beach. Juan was the closest with his guess of the 17th on Zone N as was Jagdeep (18th Zone J).
Thanks a lot if you participate - you helped us to raise CVE 4500 (€45).

The next sweepstake will be about the first nest to hatch which will be mid to end of August.

SOS Tortuga