Season wrap up

(Unten ist die Übersetzung ins Deutsche)

November is approaching, and it is time to pack and say goodbye to the turtles this year.

Looking back into the season, we believe we can be proud of the results achieved; the 2011 season was, by far, our most successful one. Although it had a grim start (we only recorded our first turtles in late June/early July), nesting caught up in September, and although most turtles have left, we're still recording sporadic nesting in some of our beaches, which is great!

In term of results, we can say that so far we have recorded a total of 946 nests this season, in all our beaches, a number similar to that of the year before (1146 nests, but not including Água Doce); the first hatchery we ever built (in Lacacão beach) was the only place in the beach where nests that didn't get flooded and destroyed half-way through the season, and yielded a hatching success rate of over 85% (similar results were found in in-situ nests in Boa Esperança beach) and; more important, our results in terms of protection were wonderful (only 5 turtles reported killed in our beaches!).

It seems that this year poachers moved away from our beaches, which is a relief. We're curious to see if this tendency will be maintained next year, but it is clear that the local people in Boa Vista are embracing our conservation efforts a little bit more each year, and the visible support we received throughout the season from the people from Fundo das Figueiras, Povoação Velha and Sal Rei, among other places shows that we are on the right track.

This season also brought some improvements or changes. With more than 5 students carrying out their research projects in fields such as genetics, parasitology, tourism, nest management strategies and socio-economics, we not only learned a lot from these really interesting studies, but were able to assist in generating important information about these research themes. Also, we participated in a satellite tracking program, led by scientists of the University of Kiel, in collaboration also with the INDP in São Vicente, in innovative research.

This was obviously our most diverse season so far in terms of participants. Although the number of international volunteers remained similar to that from last year (ca. 45), most enrolled as long-term/interns and stayed for at least 6 weeks, while throughout the season we employed 22 Cape Verdeans ful-time, and trained 30 soldiers. Additionally, we funded the only truly community based project (at Povoação Velha), where additionally 16 locals were hired to ensure the protection of Varandinha beach.

In terms of environmental education, we created successful partnerships to outside organizations such as Infância Feliz, in Santiago, and collaborated with several other groups, such as the football team "Onze Estrelas" from Bofareira, Grupo "Pretoria", from Sal, the scouts group in Boa Vista, as well as organizing three weekend camps for kids from the island (with at least 30 participants)...

Well, the list could go on and on, because it was indeed a busy season, but full details of our results will be made available early next year when the full season report is done.

For details of our preliminary data, see the table in our blog.

Thanks for all your support!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Nistsaison 2011 – Ein Überblick

Schon bald ist November und damit Zeit, dass wir uns für dieses Jahr von den Schildkröten verabschieden.

Nicht ganz ohne Stolz dürfen wir auf die Ergebnisse der diesjährigen Saison zurückblicken; es ist bis jetzt nämlich die mit Abstand erfolgreichste Nistsaison überhaupt. Nach einem etwas „harzigen“ Start (die ersten Schildkröten konnten erst Ende Juni/Anfang Juli verzeichnet werden) kamen im September dafür umso mehr Tiere zum Nisten an den Strand.

Obwohl die meisten Meeresschildkröten die Gegend bereits verlassen haben, gibt es immer noch vereinzelte Nistaktivitäten an unseren Stränden zu beobachten. Dies freut uns natürlich sehr!

Und hier ein paar Zahlen: Während der diesjährigen Nistsaison wurden an unseren Stränden bisher 946 Nester gezählt; ähnlich viele wie im Jahr zuvor, in dem es 1146 Nester waren (ohne den Strand Água Doce). Die erste von uns gebaute Hatchery (Brutstation), welche sich am Strand von Lacacão befindet, war der einzige Ort dieses Strandes, an dem die Nester nicht überschwemmt und zerstört wurden. Der dortige Schlüpferfolg liegt bei über 85% (ähnlich wie die in-situ Nester am Strand von Boa Esperança). Besonders erfreulich ist das Ergebnis bezüglich unseren Schutzbemühungen: an unseren Stränden wurden nur 5 getötete Schildkröten verzeichnet.

Es macht den Anschein, dass sich viele Wilddiebe dieses Jahr von unseren Stränden fern gehalten haben; welch’ eine Erleichterung! Wir sind gespannt, ob sich diese Tendenz auch kommendes Jahr weiter beobachten lassen wird. Auch ist ein stetes Wachsen der Akzeptanz von Boavista’s lokaler Bevölkerung unseren Schutzbemühungen gegenüber deutlich wahrnehmbar. Im Besonderen zeigt uns die kontinuierliche Unterstützung der Menschen aus Fundo das Figueiras, Povoação Velha und Sal Rei, dass wir auf dem richtigen Weg sind.

Die diesjährige Nistsaison brachte auch einige Veränderungen bzw. Verbesserungen mit sich. Fünf Studenten verfolgten Forschungsprojekte in den Bereichen Genetik, Parasitologie, Tourismus, „Nest-Management-Strategien“ und Sozioökonomie durch. Einerseits konnten wir von diesen interessanten Studien viel lernen, andererseits selbst wichtige Inputs zu den erwähnten Forschungsthemen liefern. Außerdem nahmen wir an einem innovativen „Satelliten-Tracking-Programm“ teil, welches von Wissenschaftlern der Universität Kiel in Zusammenarbeit mit der INDP (Instituto Naciaonal de Desenvolvimento) von São Vicente statt gefunden hat.

Bezüglich TeilnehmerInnen war 2011 ein äußerst facettenreiches Jahr. Nebst 45 internationalen VolontärInnen, von denen die meisten 6 Wochen oder länger blieben, boten wir 22 Kapverdianern eine Vollzeitstelle an und bildeten 30 Soldaten als Ranger aus.

Darüber hinaus finanzierten wir das einzige, gänzlich gemeindegestützte Projekt in Povoação Velha, wo zusätzlich 16 Einheimische angestellt wurden, um den Schutz vom Strand von Varandinha sicher zu stellen.

Unsere Aktivitäten im Bereich Umweltbildung schlossen sowohl die erfolgreiche Partnerschaften mit der Organisation namens „Infancia Feliz“ („Glückliche Kindheit“) mit ein, als auch die Zusammenarbeit mit verschiedenen lokalen Gruppen; so zum Beispiel mit dem Fußball-Team "Onze Estrelas" aus Bofareira, der „Grupo Pretoria" aus Sal oder der Pfadfinder-Gruppe aus Boa Vista. Weiter organisierten wir auch dieses Jahr wiederum drei Wochenend-Camps für Kinder aus Boavista, bei denen jeweils mindestens 30 Kinder teilgenommen haben.

Die Liste könnte an dieser Stelle beliebig fortgeführt werden, da während dieser Saison wirklich immer sehr viel los war. Ein ausführlicher Jahresbericht ist in Bearbeitung und wird Anfang 2012 zur Verfügung stehen.

Details zu unseren vorläufigen Daten sind in der nebenstehenden Tabelle ersichtlich.

Vielen Dank für Ihre Unterstützung !!!!!!!!!!!!

Peter Yuen photography and Turtle Foundation

Peter Yuen is a photographer who has a wonderful site dedicated to photographing animals in need of rescue. He has taken fantastic photos of sea turtles in Malaysia, and is donating a portion of photo sales to Turtle Foundation. Thank you Peter!  See his work (and buy his photos!) at http://www.peteryuenphotography.com/

Photos from our 2011 season on Boavista, Cape Verde

Joana has posted some photos on Facebook from our work during the 2011 nesting season on Boavista.  Here are a couple, but you should check out the album on Facebook.  They will make you want to go there . . . and we're looking forward to seeing you there!Turtle Foundation Cape Verde photos 2011 season

Update on the satellite tagging project in Cape Verde

Observing platform sea turtle

– A new interdisciplinary research project at IFM-GEOMAR - August 18, 2011, Kiel / Mindelo. In a new interdisciplinary research project, marine scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR) in Kiel, Germany study the dynamics of the world's third largest nesting population of the endangered loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) on the Cape Verde islands and the mechanisms and genetics of their reproduction. Using data loggers and satellite communication, the scientists can track a number of turtles. In addition a number of sensors provide the opportunity to measure a range of physical and chemical parameters during several months. The first experiments started this summer in time of the reproduction period until autumn. Worldwide, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is an endangered species (IUCN red list). Due to fishing activities, environmental pollution, climate change, tourism and hunting the loggerhead turtle populations are under pressure. The population on Cape Verde is the third-largest nesting aggregation worldwide. Hunting is still a very serious issue, although attempts have been made to protect the population. In 2007 alone, on the island of Boavista around 1,150 female turtles were killed as they came ashore to lay eggs. In that year, this corresponded to 15-30% of the total nesting population of the Cape Verde islands. By selling the turtle meat, hunters may obtain up to 150 Euros per turtle, which corresponds to an average monthly salary on Cape Verde. To support the protection of the sea turtles was one but not the only reason for marine scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR) in Kiel, Germany to launch a special research project on Cape Verde. The French evolutionary biologist Dr. Christophe Eizaguirre from IFM-GEOMAR wanted to study the genetics of the population to find out whether it is isolated or a stepping–stone between the other populations in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Even within the Cape Verde population their movements and relationships are still unclear. In cooperation with the NGO “Turtle Foundation”, Dr. Eizaguirre, obtained 2-3mm skin samples from 120 turtles for a genetic analysis. “This data base provides us a basis for our investigation”, says Eizaguirre. “From that we have learned that the Cape Verde population is genetically differentiated from both Floridian and Mediterranean populations. This means that reproduction takes place within Cape Verde demes. Additionally, genetic diversity, a crucial measure of population viability, is still high despite the threats the turtles have to face. This might be maintained by the exceptional mating system the turtles have evolved. Genetic analyses of hatchlings revealed that females mate with multiple males thus decreasing risks of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity”. Now Eizaguirre has started a second phase of the project. Together with the marine biochemist Björn Fiedler (PhD student) and the physical oceanographer Prof. Kanzow, he designed a unique observational programme. Three turtles from the Boavista island and three from Sao Vicente were equipped with a satellite transmitter and a number of sensors which measure a number of parameters: GPS position, pressure (equivalent for diving depth), temperature, salinity and some also dissolved oxygen. Thus, the turtles serve as a multidisciplinary measuring platform with similar functions as the gilders used by other groups at IFM-GEOMAR. After the first three weeks of the experiments Eizaguirre is very optimistic: “The data quality is very good, diving depths reported range from 10 to 100 metres”. He hopes that the sensors will remain on the turtles since they will try to remove it. “The instruments are very robust and with costs between 7,000 – 12,000 Euros for each sensor still affordable. In the vicinity of the islands we do have a good chance to retrieve them”. Currently his PhD student Victor Stiebens is on Cape Verde to obtain further samples from the turtles. „During the nesting period from mid July to September, there is a good chance to find nesting female turtles on the beach”, says Eizaguirre. But it is also a dangerous time for the volunteers who protect the turtles and the researchers. “Last year we were threatened by hunters with a machete. Thus, we are very grateful to Christian Roder from the Turtle Foundation and his team that supports our work as well as the authorities and the Cape Verdian marine research institute INDP who without such a project would not be possible“, Eizaguirre concluded. The project was supported by special funds provided by the Leibniz association (WGL).

For original article, with pictures:  Loggerhead satellite tracking project

Cape Verde's Loggerhead Turtles Receive Endangered Status

Since 1978, Loggerhead turtles have been considered "Threatened" throughout their range.  In 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service split loggerhead turtles into 9 separate populations for conservation efforts.  Today, 5 of those populations were designated as "Endangered", a status indicating the population is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significan portion of its range.  All sea turtles are either endangered or threatened, the latter meaning that the species is declining and is likely to beome endangered in the foreseeable future.

Cape Verde's loggerhead population is in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS.

The population designations are as follows:
ESA Threatened- (ESA = Endangered Species Act)
(1) Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS (DPS = Distinct Population Segment)
(2) South Atlantic Ocean DPS
(3) Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean DPS
(4) Southwest Indian Ocean DPS
ESA Endangered-
(5) Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS
(6) Mediterranean Sea DPS
(7) North Indian Ocean DPS
(8) North Pacific Ocean DPS
(9) South Pacific Ocean DPS

For more see: 5 loggerhead sea turtle populations are endangered