Turtle nesting season 2010

The hawksbill turtles (kare) and the Green Turtles (torti ver) are the most common marine turtles known by most Seychellois. On rare occasions the loggerhead (torti nanmkoyo) and the leather turtles (torti karanbol) can be seen as passers-by in our waters.

Is it true that time is running out for our turtles?

For us to understand this question, let us ask ourselves few simple questions: When was the last time you saw a turtle nesting on beach? When was the last time you saw turtle hatchlings rushing down the beach to the sea? What has been done to ensure that time is not running out for these charismatic creatures which wander our underwater world?

The turtle nesting season this year started quietly for many important nesting beaches in the Seychelles. The friends of the turtles all over our islands have been actively gearing up for this year’s nesting season and have been on the lookout to monitor the turtles coming ashore with the egg clutches. In some areas, sightings have been few; some beaches have been graced by the presence of the tracks while some have sheltered the eggs freshly laid by the females. Some females can come up several times to lay up to eight clutches during one nesting season.On Denis Island, turtles have been sighted numerous times; green turtles have been seen once late afternoon nesting and other times only the tracks and huge pits have been observed all around the island. Amazingly, over 10 pits were seen on a narrow stretch of the beach close to the lighthouse. Since early October, active monitoring for the hawksbill turtles have started; some walks have been spectacular as the turtles were found up the beach front. Other times, only the tracks could be seen. For the avid nature lovers who happened to be on the beach early Tuesday 2nd November, they were able to experience first hand a hawksbill turtle coming up on the beach, searching for the ideal spot, nest and returned back to the sea.

There were lots of “WOW”, “C’est merveilleux” as well as interesting questions about the biology and ecology of this charismatic organism. Early that same day, a nice couple happened to have their own private show of another turtle nesting and they videoed it as souvenir to take home.
Active monitoring is still ongoing and we are all patiently waiting for the first batch of hatchlings to emerge hopefully within the next month or so. Whether you are just a picnicker, a beach bum or just happen to wander around on a beach, keep an eye for any tracks and your ears open for any sand throwing all over the place, especially among the Scaevola sp. Inform a local who will take note of this organism’s status, as such information is valuable to further enhance its protection as well as provide additional knowledge of its ecology.