Learn about the best places to see skinners, shrimps, greens, olives and olive heads across the region – and some of the dedicated community organizations working hard to save them
Return of the Ancient Mariners
The Caribbean is among the most important turtle nesting sites globally – especially Trinidad, which is the second largest leatherback nesting site in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. And May to August is the best time to see both the nesting mothers and the babies that start to emerge during these months. It is a magical, unforgettable experience.
Sea turtles are one of the planet’s key species and play an important role in keeping the oceans healthy. They provide food for other species, maintain coral reefs and seagrass beds, and control jellyfish populations.
It is one of the many reasons WIDECAST – The Caribbean’s Widest Sea Turtle Network involving NGOs across the Caribbean (www.widecast.org) – has worked tirelessly to protect them through a variety of community-led programs, beach patrols, turtle tagging, captive breeding, rehabilitation, public education, and turtle tours for locals and visitors.
Trinidad and Tobago
T&T is home to five species of sea turtles (leatherbacks, loggerheads, greens, olives and loggerheads), and sees large numbers of turtles at five beaches in particular: Grand Rivière, Matura, Fishing Pond (in Trinidad) and Stonehaven and Courland (Tobago). Turtles also nest on a number of other beaches around the two islands, including popular ones such as Maracas, Las Cuevas, Mayaro, Manzanilla, Lambeau, Man O’ War Bay and Pigeon Point.
Leatherbacks are the main attraction at this time of year, especially in Trinidad. From March to August, thousands of leatherbacks return to the beaches on which they were born, crawling ashore—usually under the cover of darkness—then carefully digging holes in the sand in which the nesting mothers can be deposited. up to about 100 eggs each time they nest. Once they are done, they will fill the nests with a thick layer of sand and return to the ocean. They often nest more than once during the season.
About two months later, tiny heads will emerge from the sand as the egg babies make a run for the ocean. They face long odds – about one in 1,000 will reach maturity. The females who do will eventually return to these shores to begin the ritual all over again.
To arrange a turtle tour, contact Nature Seekers, SOS Tobago or any of the NGOs that are part of the Turtle Village Trust: (868) 667-8471, turtlevillagetrust.org. Their invaluable work has made T&T’s conservation programs among the most successful in the world.
Guyana
Guyana’s Shell Beach on the north coast is a prime spot to see one of the ocean’s smallest sea turtles: the olive ridley. More common in the waters around South America than in the island chain, ospreys can nest up to three times a season (March-August), laying more than 100 eggs each time. To experience this miracle of life, be prepared to travel a bit through multiple modes of transportation to get there. The Guyana Sea Turtle Conservation Society organizes tours: (592) 600-7272, www.guyanamarineconservation.org.
Barbados
Barbados boasts of being home to one of the Caribbean’s largest populations of pintails. Nesting mothers – who tend to seek out more secluded areas to nest on the south and west coasts of the island – return to the same beach in Barbados every few years between April and November. They can lay over 100 eggs at a time, and up to six times a season. For more, contact the Barbados Sea Turtle Project: (246) 230-0142 and barbadosseaturtles.orgor through social networks.
Cayman Islands
The national symbol of the Cayman Islands is the green turtle. However, the populations were almost completely destroyed a few years ago, mainly due to human activity. Fortunately, the efforts of NGOs have significantly improved the situation – the number of nests has increased and a combination of conservation and protection measures has kept the population stable. Green turtles lay eggs more than once a season, and each nest can hold more than 100. For tours, contact the Cayman Islands Turtle Center: (345) 949-3894, [email protected].
Across the region…
Grenada: whiteheads, greens, hawksbills and especially leatherbacks visit the island, especially Levera Beach, from April to June. www.oceanspirits.org
Dominica: spies shrimp, greens, leatherback, and especially crappie, especially in Rosalie Bay, Bout Sable, Cabana Bay, Wesley, and Calibishie from April to June. www.DomSeTCO.org
Jamaica: hawksbills are the main attraction here, especially on the north coast from June to August. www.jamenttrust.org/sea-turtles
Florida (USA): Whiteheads and four other species are protected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s sea turtle program, with great turtle viewing opportunities on the east coast (between Titusville and Fort Lauderdale), especially in June and July. myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles
