By Nicki Wheeler | Project Leader
Many coastal communities across the globe rely on the oceans as a resource - and turtle egg consumption has long been a tradition - and a source of protein, for these communities.
So the challenge is, when,as scientists we travel to these communities, with the intention of setting up a research or conservation project.
It is extremely hard to tell people to stop doing what they have practiced for centuries - especially as outsiders. We can share our experience, make a proposal for a more sustainable way of life, for both humans and turtles, and we can offer environmental education - but we have no authority to tell villages what to do.
Our solution? Offer an incentive, an alternative income, an opportunity.
Rather than filling their community with outsiders to engage in conservation work, we can offer paid employment to locals, to work as guides. Who better to patrol the beach with us, than a poacher who has walked the beach for decades?
Who better to help train volunteers and research assistants about collecting sea turtle eggs, than someone whose family has depended on this on the past?
This year, we have received the services of 25% of the population of this tiny community - as we hope to continue next nesting season.This year also saw record numbers of green turtles nesting on Pacuare beach. This unfortunately brought many more poachers from surrounding towns, looking to take not just the eggs, but also kill the adult turtle for her meat. If we dont have the community behind us, if we werent patrolling the beach - then 100% of turtle nests, and possibly the turtles themselves would suffer the same fate.
However, its not as simple as it may seem. These locals need training, they need equipment, they need help to take them from illegal poacher to trained turtle guide.
If you can continue supporting our project, we can do so much more. Our hands are currently tied with the resources we have, but we are in urgent need of hatchery materials, tagging equipment, training equipment ..the list is endless.
Just $10 can buy latex gloves for 1 week!
the turtles dont ask for much - just the continued protection on the beach that they call home...
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