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Africa
- Texas A&M University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
H UMANS most likely originated from the continent of Africa, with modern humans arising there more than 200,000 years ago. Sea turtles, of course, have been there much longer. The world’s secondlargest continent, Africa has coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, eastern Atlantic Ocean, and western Indian Ocean. Green, loggerhead , olive ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles are found in waters off the coasts of Africa. Greens nest at several locations on Africa’s Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts; hawksbills, on the Guinea and East African coasts. Solitary olive ridleys nest on the shores of a number of West African countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, and Tanzania . Cape Verde hosts an important loggerhead nesting population, and loggerheads also nest in South Africa, Mozambique, and Madagascar . Gabon, Mozambique, and South Africa contain leatherback nesting beaches. • Cape Verde Cape Verde, an island-nation 350 miles off the western coast of Africa , is the third-most-important loggerhead nesting area in the world. Loggerheads nest on the islands of Boavista and Sal; in 2000, researchers tagged more than 1,000 nesting females on just 3.1 miles of Boavista’s beaches. Th se islands were first inhabited by the Portuguese in the 1400s and used as a stop on transoceanic journeys. Portuguese remains the primary language, and the culture retains a vibrant mix of those of Portugal and Africa. Ten major islands—five Barlavento, or windward, and five Sotavento, or leeward—form an eastward-pointing V shape in the warm, clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Africa 147 Olive ridley returning to the sea. (Photo by Guillaume Feuillet) [3.239.239.71] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 15:14 GMT) 150 Africa Boa Vista TheTurtle Foundation (TF), a nongovernmental organization, was established in 2000 in Germany and has operated conservation projects in Indonesia since 2000 and on the Cape Verdean island of Boa Vista since 2008. TheBoa Vista effort began after the organization learned that more than 1,100 turtles were slaughtered coming ashore to nest in 2007. From protecting one beach in 2008, it grew to protecting five by 2010, with support from the local military and international volunteers. Thefoundation focuses on youth and community education, collaborates with local 151 Africa tour operators on ecotourism, and works to find alternative sources of income for the community. The 2012 season saw higher nesting activity on Boa Vista than in the previous four years—3,618 nests—and fewer dead turtles than in previous years as well. Tourists on Boa Vista can attend informational talks at the beach camps, and tour operators take groups to visit the camps, where they learn about the negative effects of driving motorized vehicles on nesting beaches (quad tours on beaches are popular on the island, unfortunately ), the work of the Turtle Foundation, and sustainable tourism. Turtlewatching tours are conducted in collaboration with three small, local tour operators, and the group plans to expand this activity. The project also plans to begin training local staff as turtle-watching guides as part of its pursuit of high-quality but small-scale tours that meet species protection goals while also benefiting he local population. Volunteers are needed during the nesting season, June 15 to November 1, from two weeks to five months. Duties range from monitoring nesting beaches to collecting data on the beach, preparing materials for research, helping with tourist information and merchandise sales, and providing educational activities for local children. Volunteers work up to 40 hours per week and stay in either Lacaco or Boa Esperanca beach camps or with community members in Fundo das Figueras/Norte, with each having a slightly different range of activities. Volunteers on beach patrol always have a staff mem er or community member along. Volunteers live in remote communities without nightlife and shops and with a limited variety of food. Volunteers have free time during the day to catch up on sleep (since patrols take place at night), walk and explore the island, or just relax. Th y take an active part in camp and house maintenance , cleaning and cooking. A volunteer fee covers food (three meals a day) and drinks, transportation from Boavista International Airport to the camp, shared accommodation in tents (those desiring more privacy may bring their own tent), training, and on-site support by the TF team. More information: Turtle Foundation: turtle-foundation.org, volunteers@turtle-foundation .org [3.239.239.71] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 15:14 GMT) 152 Africa How to help: Make...