Green turtle hatchling going out to sea. PHOTO: Island Conservation Society
Aride Island is the most northerly of the granitic Seychelles and has been a Nature Reserve since 1973, originally bought by Christopher Cadbury for the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts in the UK, it is now leased and managed by a local charity, the Island Conservation Society. Although rightly famed as a seabird island, it boasts an important colony of Hawksbill Turtles as well as a few Green Turtles.
Turtle nesting has been monitored on Aride since 1975, giving a very important long-term dataset for the species. During the breeding season of September to April, the beach is patrolled several times a day with the aim of recording every turtle that comes ashore, marking all nests and following the progress of the youngsters as the nests hatch. This involves everything from measuring the size of the turtle, checking tags and tagging any without, counting the eggs as they are laid to excavating hatched nests to free any trapped youngsters and confirm the number of successful hatchlings or gain information on why they might have failed.
Aride beach from the east. PHOTO: Island Conservation Society
Much of the work is undertaken by volunteers, living amongst the wildlife in this incredible island reserve for three months at a time. If you are interested in getting involved, please check out our website: http://www.arideisland.net/ and contact the warden:
Turtle Monitoring by ICS on the Outer Islands of Seychelles
Nesting Hawksbill Turtle. PHOTO: Island Conservation Society
For further information please contact: Jeanne A. Mortimer
Sea Turtle Consultant c/o Island Conservation Society Mahe Seychelles
Aride Island Nature Reserve Turtle Monitoring Programme
