Cape Verde - Boavista

LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES IN CAPE VERDE

The Cape Verde nesting population of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) is the third largest population in the world after the nesting populations of Oman and Southeast Florida. Up to 90% of the nesting occurs on the island of Boavista, the largest of the eastern islands with an area of approximately 620 km².

Loggerhead Sea Turtles are threatened with extinction – as all sea turtles are – and listed on Appendix I of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) as well as on the Red List of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Specifically in Cape Verde, although all species of sea turtles are officially protected under national laws, they are exposed to multiple threats. The primary threats are the slaughter of female Loggerheads when they come ashore to nest, but more recently also the destruction of their nesting beaches by uncontrolled construction on the coast and use of motorized vehicles on the beach as part of a rapid tourism development. Hunting of turtles at sea also occurs regularly in the archipelago, as well as trade of turtle meat and eggs across the islands.

THE SLAUGHTERING OF THE TURTLES ON CAPE VERDE' S BEACHES

The female Loggerhead turtles are currently being heavily exploited by poachers for their meat when they come ashore to lay eggs during the nesting season which takes place between June and October. The female turtles are turned upside down as they come ashore to nest, which allows the poachers time to find other turtles and come back and kill the turtles at their leisure. The slaughter is particularly brutal and cruel, with the flippers being cut off first, then the animal is sliced open to remove meat, eggs, and internal organs, all while still alive.

This situation has resulted in the United Nations Environment Programme identifying Cape Verde as the conservation priority for Loggerhead turtles (UNEP, 2002).

Despite conservation efforts carried out by the NGO Natura 2000 since 1998 in the main nesting beach of Ervatão, and more recently the work carried out by Turtle Foundation in other beaches (see below for more details), poaching is still a common practice, especially on smaller, unprotected beaches closer to villages.

CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES IN CAPE VERDE

Natura 2000 was the first NGO to focus on sea turtle protection in Cape Verde; ‘Cabo Verde Natura 2000’. The central office of this organization is situated in Sal Rei on the island of Boavista. Natura 2000 is managing a field site for the study and conservation of nesting Loggerhead sea turtles on the east coast of Boavista.

According to Natura 2000, in 2007 over 1100 female turtles were slaughtered on the beaches, a number estimated to be 15% of the total population of nesting females in the Cape Verde area that year. These numbers were so appalling that Turtle Foundation decided to install a conservation program on the island to complement the work done by Natura 2000.

HOW DID TURTLE FOUNDATION WORK START IN BOAVISTA?

Turtle Foundation began its project on Boavista by early 2008. Agreements were quickly reached with other organizations working in Cape Verde, including Natura2000 for technical and logistical support, as well as local government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, the Boavista Community Council, and the military command. With limited funds and planning time, the project for our first year focused on patrolling and protecting the 15 km section of beach in Porto Ferreira on the east coast of Boavista, an area heavily used by nesting turtles and requiring a 4 wheel drive vehicle to access. Our project aimed to reduce the current slaughter, while working toward the eventual protection of all the beaches and all the turtles.

Natura 2000 has worked with and assisted Turtle Foundation by sharing their methodology and expertise in the training of the Lead Biologist, camp coordinators, local assistants and volunteers to conform to existing data collection and protection strategies and methods. In addition, the Cape Verde military has been one of the Turtle Foundation's strongest allies, providing soldiers for night patrols during the nesting season since 2008.

The effect of the initial patrols done with the help of the military was seen almost immediately. The patrol teams found “turned turtles” on the beach awaiting the poachers’ return, and turned the turtles right side up immediately and allowed them to return to the sea. Turtles encountered on the beach were protected from harm until they finished nesting and returned to the sea.

As a result of our beach patrols on Boavista‘s east coast during the 2008 nesting season we reduced the number of sea turtles killed on the protected beaches by 90%. Whereas in 2007 approx. 600 sea turtles were killed, in 2008 only 60 animals were documented killed on this stretch of beach (N2000/TF).

In addition to the patrols, during the season alliances and partnerships with the local government, other conservation organizations, and most importantly the local community had been forged. Various activities such a coloring competition for children, an environmental education presentation in Praia and a conservation and information presentation in Sal Rei were very well received by the local community of Cape Verde. Turtle Foundation is now well known in Boavista for supporting the conservation of Cape Verde’s sea turtles as well as supporting the local community.

CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION OF TURTLE FOUNDATION WORK

In 2009, Turtle Foundation was crucial, alongside with Natura 2000 and SOS Tartarugas, in the creation of the Cape Verde Sea Turtle Network (REDE TAOLA), a coalition of NGO's, government agencies, research organizations, tourism industry and other stakeholders to maximize turtle conservation efforts.

Also in 2009, Turtle Foundation expanded the protection project. With Natura2000 protecting Ervatao since 1998 and Porto Ferreira starting in 2009, Turtle Foundation protected the beaches of Canto, Norte, Curral Velho, and Lacacao.

The patrols were supported again by the Cape Verde military, and for the first time we also had the invaluable participation of international volunteers. There were 19 volunteers, ranging in age from 18-43 years old, and from countries such as Germany, England, Portugal, Slovenia and Cyprus each giving between 2-6 weeks of their time in helping with the monitoring and protection of the turtles. We could not have accomplished nearly as much without them, and we are tremendously grateful for the energy, dedication, and hard work.

We are looking forward to working with more volunteers in 2010. In 2010 Turtle Foundation is expanding the project even further, setting up 3 beach camps to allow continual patrolling, monitoring, and research activities during the nesting seasons to come. Whenever and wherever possible we involve the local community, local authorities or local partner organizations in our work.

TURTLE FOUNDATION AT WORK:

Patrols occur at night, as most turtles come ashore at night to nest.

Teams of at least 2 people, one a soldier, walk the beach in 4-6 hour shifts to watch for turtles, and protect them until they return to the water. Surveys are done daily or weekly to collect data on nesting activity, and to document killed turtles.

Other activities conducted by Turtle Foundation and the volunteers include educational programs and environmental camps for school children, painting of conservation murals in the community, beach clean-ups to remove plastic and trash from the beach, erection of informational signs regarding the turtles on the beaches, training of local tour guides to promote eco-tours to watch nesting turtles and hatching nests, and working with the community to promote alternative methods of income from the living turtles such as turtle crafts.

The results of the protection project for the 2009 season were overwhelmingly positive. Over 500 turtles were killed on these beaches in 2007, and in 2009 only 42 were documented killed.

PRESENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

Despite the successes, there are still unprotected beaches where the turtles are still slaughtered, nesting beaches that are being destroyed by construction, beaches covered in plastic and trash, and there is much work to do with the local community to promote education and conservation that will benefit both the turtles and the community. In particular, an extremely large golf and beach resort is planned on Lacacao beach, which will extend over 6 km across prime nesting area. Already, lack of legislation and enforcement regarding the effects of construction on nesting habitat, the use of quad bikes on the beach, and other environmental issues are having a negative effect on the turtle population. But Boavista is in the early stages of tourism development, and Turtle Foundation is convinced that solutions can be found that will benefit both the community and the turtles.

In order to reach these ambitious and realistic goals we need your support. Please help! us prevent the extinction of the third largest nesting population of Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the world!