Some updates from the field on Boavista

From Joana Hancock: 

training session for the crew

June 26^th:  This week started the best way possible! The first nests have been recorded, two turtles have already been tagged. Life's good! Last night, first turtle tagged in NORTE!

June 22^nd:  Yay! First nest recorded this morning in Boa Esperança!! And first nest recorded last night in Curral Velho!             

Day before, it was Lacacão team opening the honours in Curral Velho beach :-)

TURTLE FOUNDATION all set for a new season!

Turtle Foundation in Boa Vista island just finished setting the second of its three sea turtle protection base camps, and has officially started its season.

This year TF will protect the beaches of Curral Velho, Lacacão, Boa Esperança, Norte and Canto, ensuring that most of the nesting beaches along the north, northeast and south of the island are protected against poaching. The first camp to be set up was the one located in Lacacão beach, where the new RIU Touareg opened just a few weeks ago, and the new construction phase is due to start anytime soon. Additionally, TF will fund the local initiative Projecto “Varandinha – Povoação Velha”. With the work of TF, this group and Natura 2000, we are hoping that about 90% of the nesting beaches are fully protected, which is great news!

Relatório da Temporada 2010 já disponível!

Finalmente pusémos no nosso site o Relatório Final de temporada de 2010., para que aqueles interssados possam aceder.

Este documento contém básicamente um relato de tudo o que fizémos (ou tentámos fazer!) no último ano. O balanço final foi muito positivo, mas faltou muito para fazer... com a temporada de 2011 a arrancar hoje, só podemos desejar que este ano tenhamos oportunidades e condições de continuar sempre a fazer mais e melhor!

Obrigada a todos os que nos apoiaram (e ainda têm fé em nós ;-) )!

Turtle Foundation

Click no link abaixo para aceder ao documento:

http://www.turtle-foundation.org/Portals/0/Content/TF%20CV%20relato%CC%81rio%202010%20PT.pdf

Some bad news

From Joana, our field coordinator on Boavista:
Some bad news... the first turtle has been caught and killed (ALREADY) on one of the beaches up in the north of the island. We are needing volunteers URGENTLY to help us in the Fundo das Figueiras project. We are due to start patrols on the 19th this month... If you are wondering what to do in late June, and July, don't think twice, and come, we really need some help!!!!

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL DURING YOUR HOLIDAYS?

THEN WHY NOT BECOME A VOLUNTEER FOR THE TURTLE FOUNDATION? READ WHAT FORMER VOLUNTEERS WROTE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE:

"At the end of May this year when my degree course was complete, I had a choice to make; stay in my comfy-but-boring office job, or do something out of the ordinary. My degree was in Biology and I have always loved animals (especially reptiles) so the turtle project in Cape Verde looked like a good fit for me. This turned out to be, unequivocally, the best decision I have ever made, and something I would recommend to anyone ..." (James Barnes, UK)

”Most people just exist, dreaming of crazy adventure but never doing anything about it – ... whilst you have a breath in your body and can handle tiring exercise five hours per evening – then you’d be doing yourself and Your life a great favour by contacting The Turtle Foundation and committing to volunteering your holiday time next summer to travelling to Boa Vista and experiencing something you really don’t find in your daily life!! Heck, some of us gave up two months of our lives for some of the most intense, exciting and beautiful experiences of our lives. . . . the culture and craziness of the work with the other volunteers can’t help but entice anybody brave enough to jump in and be part of something very special." (Martin Sansone, UK)
"Ich liege mitten in der Nacht am Strand im weißen, warmen Sand, irgendwo auf dieser faszinierenden Insel Boavista, mit ihrer unglaublichen Landschaft, die anders ist als alles, was ich zuvor gesehen habe. Ich schaue Richtung Meer, wo die Wellen unaufhörlich rauschen, betrachte den üppigen Sternenhimmel und bin zufrieden. Neben mir nistet eine unechte Karettschildkröte, Caretta caretta, der Grund warum ich hier bin." (Astrid Mittelstaedt, Deutschland)

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION. IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, PLEASE DO PASS THE WORD ON. WE ARE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS NESTING SEASON.

TURTLE FOUNDATION - because extinction means forever!
www.turtle-foundation.org