Summary for the Season

Total number of turtles located over the season = 57

Olive Ridley protected and returned to the sea = 35

Olive Ridley killed = 12

Leatherbacks protected and returned to the sea  = 4

Leatherbacks killed = 6

As you can see there are still numbers of turtles being killed and eaten by local people, despite efforts to educate them as to the consequences of this. The number of turtles found is now about half what it was 3+ years ago.

While overall figures are much the same as last year, there has been a significant fall in the number of nesting leatherbacks. This may be because the Volta river has changed the direction of its release into the sea (as happens quite often) and so now it is pushing the heavier leatherbacks further down the coast.

Details by Month.

September

Some reports of killings in June and July. Lots of reports of sightings in August. As hatchings in September, clearly turtles laying in months before.

 

15 Olive Ridley turtles protected.

4 Olive Ridley turtles found killed.

 

October

3 Olive Ridley turtles protected.

2 Olive Ridley turtles found killed.

100 Olive Ridley hatchings escorted to the sea.

140 eggs laid and removed to safety. Numerous nests which the team erased signs of so that they were not disturbed.

 

November

 

3 Olive Ridley turtles protected.

4 Olive Ridley turtles found killed.

2 Leatherback turtles protected.

5 leatherback turtles killed.

Big education and awareness gathering by Environmental Justice Foundation     (Peter) to raise levels of awareness locally around turtle protection. Despite this we are very sad to see so many Leatherbacks killed.

 

December

3 Olive Ridley turtles protected.

2 Olive Ridley turtles found killed.

2 Leatherback turtles protected.

1 leatherback turtles killed.

The turtle team are feeling under great pressure from the local population who are suffering hardship from very low fish catches. They think this has been  caused by illegal Chinese ships taking all fish from the sea just off the coast.

January

7 Olive Ridley protected.

207 eggs recovered and moved to a safe hatching area.

It appears that the mouth of the Volta river has changed direction and is creating a current that pushes the heavier leatherbacks further along the coast to Agitechi and to Anloga. We are getting reports of much higher numbers of leatherbacks coming out to nest along this stretch of the coast. There is no turtle protection team operating in that area and these leatherbacks are extremely vulnerable to being killed.

 

February

4 Olive Ridley protected.

232 eggs recovered and moved to the safe hatching area.

Substantial numbers of baby turtles hatched and taken to the sea.