The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) on Sal Island, Cape Verde : nesting activity and beach surveillance in 2009

Lino, Sílvia P. P.; Gonçalves, Euclides; Cozens, Jacquie

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/670

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Authors

Lino, Sílvia P. P.

Gonçalves, Euclides

Cozens, Jacquie

Abstract(s)

Surveys for Caretta caretta nesting activities were performed during the nesting seasons from the middle of June to end of October 2009 on Sal Island, Cape Verde. A total of 3628 activities were registered: 1071 nests, 2466 turtle tracks and 91 dead turtles. On nesting beaches still used by locals to catch female turtles for their meat, nightly patrols from 9 pm to 5 am resulted in a significant reduction in turtle mortality in comparison to non patrolled beaches. On beaches regularly patrolled, an increment of nests per km was also observed which allows us to conclude that the presence of trained Rangers does not disturb the turtles or interrupt the nesting process.