Turtle Watching

Three species of females Marine turtles -the giant leatherback, green turtle and hawksbill perform their egg laying rituals from March to August annually in sand on beaches. These beaches are located on the east and north coast in Trinidad. Tobago north coast beaches are also sanctuaries for these marine creatures. Hatchlings emerge from their chambers seventy days after deposits are made.

Commuinty- based organisations provide tour guiding, beach patrols and protection for these ancient sea creatures. Grande Riviere beach on the north east coast of Trinidad have a high density of nesting during the months of April and May. Some nights there are 400 females laying excavating nests of others and littering the beach with eggs. These docile creatures lay 100-120 eggs every 9-10 days. Other nesting sites are Manzanilla, Fishing Pond, Matura, Madamas, Tacarib and Paria.Tobago north coast beaches. Poaching has be curtail with enactment of legislation to protect the giant leatherback.

Ishmael Angelo Samad.

The battle for Turtle Conservation and Protection in Trinidad and Tobago.

Leatherback turtles nest on the east coast of Trinidad on beaches of Grande Riviere ,Matura and Fishing Pond during the months of March, April,May, June,July and August. During the 70's,appalled at the slaughter of female leatherbacks by proachers who hunt the turtles for its meat. Members of the field naturalist club and I took it upon our selves to confront poachers head on in order to stop this senseless slaughter.This exercise involved patrolling five miles of lonely coastline on foot and sometimes alone. At times,we undertook to do it on weekends when most of the poaching occurred.We would bike all the way to the east coast

Telephone: 868-645-3025

e-mail:tacaribe@tstt.net.tt