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Weaselboots
05-20-2005, 12:50 AM
I know i don't post here much but i visit often, so i thought i'd tell you about what i'm doing now.
I'm on a very small island- Carriacou, just off Grenada in the West Indies.

This is where i'm spending a month volunteering
http://www.kido-projects.com/

and this is what i'm doing

* Night patrolling on foot in a nature park area comprising 4 different beaches from 8pm to 5 am; 5 nights a week.
* Assisting tagging post nesting turtles, carapace measuring and other data collection.
* Nest marking and disguising against poaching.
* Hatchling monitoring and survival rate data collection.
* Daytime beach survey by boat/kayak.
* At Kido Station: quarters maintenance and cooking in turns.

Its nesting season for Leatherbacks and Hawkbills. I've watched a several lay eggs now and its amazing. :seaturt:
Dario and Marina, who began it all, are Italian, sailed here 15 years ago and stayed. They are doing a amazing job, sometimes against alot of local opposition, and have more energy and passion than i ever will and they are in their mid 50's. They also do alot to help the community with computer lessons, disaster preparedness, young mothers etc.

here are some photos if ya keen, i took most of them except the hatchlings and the adult leatherbacks (my shots were blurry, need more light, so these are last seasons)

http://photobucket.com/albums/y248/cozrose/

livius drusus
05-20-2005, 12:56 AM
Oh. My. God! I can't believe the size of that leatherback. Is that a camera angle thing or are they really that gigantic?

What a wonderful and amazing thing you're doing, Weaselboots. :bow:

viscousmemories
05-20-2005, 01:54 AM
That's really cool what you're doing, Weaselboots. Cool pictures too. :yup:

Crumb
05-20-2005, 05:07 AM
You lucky bastard. Sea turtles are my favorite animal. I want to see them lay eggs and hatch someday. That is a big leatherback. Very cool.

MooseIBe
05-20-2005, 12:15 PM
Oh wow that sounds like my idea of heaven *dies of envy*

They make great soup you know ;)

Weaselboots
05-20-2005, 05:51 PM
Oh. My. God! I can't believe the size of that leatherback. Is that a camera angle thing or are they really that gigantic?

What a wonderful and amazing thing you're doing, Weaselboots. :bow:

No they are that big. The ones we measured had a carapace length of 150cm , not including the head. They can get to 2 meters long and 800kg or so.

Its a great place here, the water is perfect and the snorkling wonderful.

After this i'm meeting Rob,(me man) in Mexico for 3 weeks.
Life is tough :D

MooseIBe
05-20-2005, 07:21 PM
Heh they are BIG. And I'm still envious as hell. I would love to be in the Carribean right now :(

JoeP
05-21-2005, 11:18 AM
Sounds like the most fun you can have with your boots on.

That hawksbill hatchling (http://photobucket.com/albums/y248/cozrose/?action=view&current=Hawksbillhatchling.jpg) is unbelievably cute, and a great photo too.