Finally I could upload the new post about the Barbados turtle project. As I said in another post hightide Watersports also helps the staff of the Turtle Project in protecting the current Turtle population and helping it to grow to a level where they can fulfill their ecological roles.
How do the want to do that?¨
Well first of all it is important, that as many of the offspring are able to survive. The hawksbill turtle which is the most common turtle species on Barbados lays her eggs on all beaches on the West and Soutcoast from May to October. After about 60 days the turtles will hatch between 6pm and 6am and make their way to the water. If possible the Staff will not interfere with this procedure, however if they get distracted by light and try to go the other way, they are rescued and released into the water.
They also educate people for example in schools about sea turtles and train new volunteers how to find turtle nests and lots of more things.
One of these things is gathering scientific data of activity patterns based on track patterns. That means to tag turtles. This is where the divers come into play. They drive with us to dive spots once or twice a week and try to catch the turtles underwater. They then bring them to the surface and on the dive boat.
How do the want to do that?¨
Well first of all it is important, that as many of the offspring are able to survive. The hawksbill turtle which is the most common turtle species on Barbados lays her eggs on all beaches on the West and Soutcoast from May to October. After about 60 days the turtles will hatch between 6pm and 6am and make their way to the water. If possible the Staff will not interfere with this procedure, however if they get distracted by light and try to go the other way, they are rescued and released into the water.
They also educate people for example in schools about sea turtles and train new volunteers how to find turtle nests and lots of more things.
One of these things is gathering scientific data of activity patterns based on track patterns. That means to tag turtles. This is where the divers come into play. They drive with us to dive spots once or twice a week and try to catch the turtles underwater. They then bring them to the surface and on the dive boat.
These two are young turtles, most of the turtles caught are young ones, because the older and heavier ones are harder to catch.
The guys from the turtle staff then weigh them, measure them and tag them if they're not already tagged. This procedure takes about 10 minutes per turtle. After that they are released into the water. If one turtle isn't tagged already, it is given a name and a number, which will be written on their back.
The guys from the turtle staff then weigh them, measure them and tag them if they're not already tagged. This procedure takes about 10 minutes per turtle. After that they are released into the water. If one turtle isn't tagged already, it is given a name and a number, which will be written on their back.
On the afternoon of the day I took these pictures we discovered a dead hatchling between two of our sailing boats. A mongoose probably dug up one of the eggs from a nest. We called the turtle patrol staff, (they have an special hotline for an turtle concerns) and two of them came to the beach.
They found the nest and took out all of the turtles to release them in the evening.
They found the nest and took out all of the turtles to release them in the evening.
They found over 120 living turtles, some of the others didn't survive. It was amazing to see how many turtles can hatch from only one nest. After w while a lot of people from the nearby hotel gathered to see the little guys.
I think the work and effort the people in the Barbados Sea-turtle Project put in on their work is admirable. I like the idea of conserving this wonderful species in the carribean. They are also one of the main tourist attractions of Barbados and so very important to a lot of local people. If you're on Barbados once you can either go to a snorkel trip with a catamaran where you will see a lot of turtles or diving in one of the shallow dive spots on the island. You see a turtle on nearly every dive. I can only recommend this experience.
If you stay on Barbadso for two weeks between July and October you are also very likely to see little turtles hatching on the beach.
This was a longer post again, in the net time there will follow new post more freqeuently but a bit shorter.
I am still enjoying my time here after 5 weeks have passed. I really like the way of living here, I hope my last four weeks will be as good as the last ones. But I don't really doubt it.
I think the work and effort the people in the Barbados Sea-turtle Project put in on their work is admirable. I like the idea of conserving this wonderful species in the carribean. They are also one of the main tourist attractions of Barbados and so very important to a lot of local people. If you're on Barbados once you can either go to a snorkel trip with a catamaran where you will see a lot of turtles or diving in one of the shallow dive spots on the island. You see a turtle on nearly every dive. I can only recommend this experience.
If you stay on Barbadso for two weeks between July and October you are also very likely to see little turtles hatching on the beach.
This was a longer post again, in the net time there will follow new post more freqeuently but a bit shorter.
I am still enjoying my time here after 5 weeks have passed. I really like the way of living here, I hope my last four weeks will be as good as the last ones. But I don't really doubt it.