The first of many nesting hawksbill turtles has arrived on Cousine Island, signalling the start of their nesting season. The monitoring of this critically endangered species is one of the primary focuses of the conservation team on the Island. Important data, such as tag numbers, carapace length and nest clutch sizes, are collected from each female encountered on the beach in order to identify changes in the population within the Seychelles.
Cousine’s beach is also very dynamic with the beach interface changing in size according to the season and wind direction. Nests that are laid in an area deemed ‘unsafe’ are relocated by the team to a predator-free hatchery and once the hatchlings have emerged they are released into the ocean to start their journey to adulthood. Cousine Island conservation team are saying that they hope that this season will be another success story, with even more hatchlings released than in previous years.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Nests that are laid in an area deemed ‘unsafe' are relocated by the team to a predator-free hatchery and once the hatchlings have emerged they are released into the ocean to start their journey to adulthood.
- Important data, such as tag numbers, carapace length and nest clutch sizes, are collected from each female encountered on the beach in order to identify changes in the population within the Seychelles.
- The monitoring of this critically endangered species is one of the primary focuses of the conservation team on the Island.