Turtle Links on this page
Human exploitation of the Marine Turtle
Additional threats facing Turtles from Y2K onwards
How humans have exploited Sea Turtles
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The epidermal plates of the carapace (shell) have in the past been traded in huge quantities and were used to make combs, decorative ornaments etc..
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There used to be a market in stuffed young turtles to sell to tourists.
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Turtles' eggs are a favorite food item in some cultures.
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Turtles were and still are killed in certain areas for their body parts which are considered to have medical properties.
Additional
threats facing Turtles from Y2K onwards:
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The trade in turtle products continues. Impoverished indigenous tribes can make much needed income from killing turtles and harvesting eggs.
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Entanglement in fishing nets:
- As the fishing methods become more aggressive and destructive, many turtles perish. Prawn trawlers' nets can be fitted with turtle excape devices (TED's ) but in reality very few are. -
Large scale tourist resorts built close to nesting beaches frighten and confuse pregnant females:
- Females come back to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs. Brightly lit and noisy hotels built close to the water stop them from laying eggs - they may wander up and down a busy beach for hours in the night looking for a quiet spot to nest. If they don't find one, they return to the sea and abort them in the open ocean.
Local Kenyan efforts to Save Turtles
Twenty
years ago, Barbara Simpson, set up
Turtlewatch with the aim of saving turtles in Kenya. She rallied local
support and got backing from the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
The method she employed was to give local tribesmen a cash incentive - every time they found a nest and came and told her, they received money. she would then make sure the nests weren't disturbed before hatching time.
The process of offering rewards instead of punishments reaped benefits. Barbara's efforts have inspired others.
Watamu Turtlewatch
We
spoke to Helen Curtis of Watamu Turtlewatch. This is a small band of volunteers,
their collective aim is to increase the numbers of turtles hatching and
entering the sea. In certain situations ie. if the turtle has nested below
the high water mark, they will painstakingly move the nest. This involves
digging an identical nest and making sure that each egg is placed in the
same position that it was originally lying. Their efforts are justified
since for each nest moved they are now recording a 92% hatching success
rate.
Watamu Turtlewatch have also started Turtle Clubs in local schools to educate the next generation. "Our message is the circle of Life......turtles graze on sea grass and release nutrients which entice fish. The fishermen can therefore protect their fisheries by protecting the turtle."
Conservationists in Kenya
North
of Watamu, we met Hassan Bien, another conservationist who has
impressive
ability
to rally the townsfolk and get things done. In
the past, he organised a protest by all the elders and leaders which resulted
in the termination of coral harvesting by unscrupulous European companies.(which
incidentally coincided with the transfer of a certain corrupt District
Commissioner!). He organises beach clean-ups and talks non stop to local
fishermen about conservation issues. It was encouraging to see someone
with respect and standing in the community bringing the plight of turtles
to people.
On the South coast of Kenya, Kerstin Handleman also runs a Turtle project similar to Watamu Turtlewatch. What was apparent to us was that these individuals struggle with a lack of resources. If they were funded properly, they could achieve more. Hassan is attempting to organise a sponsored walk down the Kenyan coast to raise awareness but if they had proper funding they would be able to concentrate on saving the Turtles. If they had funding they could be a strong collective voice, but that money must come soon.
If you would like to help Watamu Turtlewatch save the Sea Turtles, please click here to email Helen Curtis for details. Unfortunately an online form is NOT yet available for those who wish to make donations via credit card.
Adopt an entire Nest for only $10 and you will receive progress reports via email on the success of your nest and its eggs.
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