Santiwah

Turtle Hunting Banned In Trinidad and Tobago

Finally, we have some good news coming out of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago!  The present administration running the country has put an end to the hunting and killing of Turtles in our beloved Trinidad and Tobago.

I am pleased that the law didn't just address the hunting of the turtles; it also prohibits the taking and eating of the eggs that turtles come ashore to lay every year. The law itself prohibits the killing, harpooning and sale of turtle meat in Trinidad and Tobago. The law is all about the "Protection of Turtle and Turtle Eggs Regulations". Animal activitists and nature lovers in general now have someting to cheer about. Trinidad's governments of the past have always made an effort to protect the nesting leatherback turtles but this new law will now give the soldiers who patrol the beaches the power to arrest anyong caught attempting to kill the turtles or steal their eggs. Bravo Trinidad and Tobago!  Indeed, this is very good news!

It is estimated that every year over 6,000 thousand turtles come to the shores of Trinidad to lay their eggs. The Leatherback turtle has now been listed as an endangered species. They religiously return to Trinidad to lay theirs eggs to ensure that the species survives in a very destructive world that does not have any respect for nature's plan. Fortunately the government of Trinidad and Tobago has done the right thing... This is the correct decision, a sane decision that respects the species and sets us aside from many nations of the World. We are a caring people and this new law will surely help. 

The newly amended law that also protects the eggs (stated above) falls under Section 4 Chapter 67:51 of the new act approved by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. This is particularly good news for the giant leather back turtles that religiously return to Trinidad year after year to lay their eggs.

The Act sates the following: 

“No person shall, at any time, kill, harpoon, catch or otherwise take possession of any turtle, or purchase, sell, offer or expose for sale or cause to be sold or offered for sale any turtle or turtle meat”. He further explained: “As you may be aware, Trinidad and Tobago holds the unique position of having nesting populations of five of the seven species of marine turtles occurring worldwide and has one of the largest nesting populations of Leatherback turtles in the world, second only to Africa.” Bharath said that all turtles were regarded as critically endangered worldwide according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which T&T was a party. “What this therefore means, members of the fishing community, is that no longer can turtles be considered a “by-catch”. It is our goal to foster the sustainable use and conservation of fisheries resources, and we urge you to join us.”

This is extremely good news... Didn't you know that the present administration running the country has put an end to the hunting and killing of Turtles in our beloved Trinidad and Tobago? The new law also prohibits the taking and eating of the eggs that turtles come ashore to lay every year. The law itself prohibits the killing, harpooning and sale of turtle meat in Trinidad and Tobago. The law is all about the "Protection of Turtle and Turtle Eggs Regulations".

Information for this article was obtained from the Trinidad Guradian Newspaper - "Government ends all Turtle hunting".

Photo was obtained from: Google Images

Caves in Trinidad Part 2 | "Tamana Cave System"

The Tamana Cave system is located in the Central Range of Trinidad. In order to get to the area most people travelling from the West and North Western areas of Trinidad head to the town of Sangre Grande (Big Blood) and south of the are to access the Tamana elevated region. This area (known as the Central Range) is considered the Central 'mountain' region of the island even though the highest elevation is just 1,009 feet. The area runs from the South West to the North East of the island. This area is different from the Northern Range of Mountains because the area was once a coral reef that was pushed up because of geological activity. This area is primarily limestone with a network of caves that have been home for a variety of bat species and other creatures. 

Just to think of a bat cave should be just that, a thought, and not some place to visit. However, for the naturalist it is a 'must see' place of interest. Forget the guano on the floor produced by over one million bats and other creatures that call the cave system their home. Various species very large roaches and other insects live in this area. Seeing the area in daylight could be interesting for someone like me but people who venture to the Tamana caves are interested in seeing inside the caves and what happens when night fall arrives.

Close to one and a half million bats shreak and exit the caves as nighfall arrives to head out for their nightly feeding activities. Trinidad has about 67 species of bats and in the Tamana caves there are about eleven different species that inhabit this cave system. It has been reported that there are fruit eating bats (I know they love sapodilla), nectar and even vampire bats (they seek out animals for their blood treat).

During the rainy season the area could become a difficult trek with lots of slippery path ways and sapate mud (this mud sticks to your shoes and is very slippery). The dry season should make the hike a more tolerable adventure for those who love to adventure in these areas.

I have never entered any cave and probably will never venture into one. However, those who have entered this area reported sheats of guano on the ground with a memorable stench. Above their heads are bats clinging to the ceiling, flying insects and a variety of bugs. Those who remain outside are wowed by the bats leaving the caves by the hundreds. This is the moment that those who adventure into the area look forward to witnessing. Some have described it as "fear and wonder". I would tend to lean toward the fear aspect and wonder why would someone want to be in an area with bats zooming past them. I guess it is the adventure and wonder of it all that intrigues someone to venture into bat-world!

The following information was sourced from Wikipedia and can be accessed from this link: Tamana Caves.

"Tamana caves (or Tamana cave) is a cave system located on the northern slope of Mount Tamana in eastern Trinidad. Mount Tamana is a 307-metre flat topped hill of Miocene Guaracara Limestone of the Tamana Formation in the eastern Central Range.

Julian Kenny described the main cave as consisting of 18 separate sections. He documented two chimneys and a "walk-in chamber". The walk-in chamber connected to a "boulder chamber" that was heavily used by bats, and to a crawl hole which connected to the remainder of the cave system. Beyond the crawl hole was a subterranean stream and a passage which connected to the chimney area. Beyond that the passages descended further, ending in what Kenny called the "New Deep" and the "Far Deep", areas which had not been explored at the time of his publication.

Kenny reported that eleven bat species permanently roosted in the cave, while a twelfth species roosted occasionally in an adjacent dry cave. Certain species were restricted to specific areas of the cave, while others were scattered throughout." End Wikipedia Article.

A photo of Mount Tamana can be seen at this link : Nature Trekking in Trinidad and Tobago

The photo of the bats is linked to the source article (just hover the cursor over picture or link to the article here): Trinidad is an Adventure 

 

Caves in Trinidad Part 1 | "The Aripo Caves"

The Aripo Caves are also known as the "Oil Bird Caves of Trinidad". The caves are nestled in the Northern Range and can be located in the village of Aripo. In this area one can locate the highest point in Trinidad known as El Cerro del Aripo. There is a site that provides some very useful information about the Oilbird Caves of Trinidad and can be linked here: Oilbird Caves of Trinidad. 

I have had the opportunity to go into the Blanchieusse Forest area and I can tell you that the forests are green and the water is clear. People who have had the opportunity to get near the caves say that the area stinks! I guess that it is a by-product of the guano of the Oil birds.  I don't like dark places and to venture into a cave in the mountainous regions of Trinidad is not going to happen for me. Those whom are adventurous should enjoy trekking through the forest to get to these caves where the Oil bird aka "Guácharo" resides.

The following information was sourced from Wikipedia:

The Aripo Cave is a cave in the Northern Range, in Trinidad and Tobago. The caves are a notable bat roost, and that bats contribute considerable amounts of guano, which in turn support vast numbers of cave dwelling invertebrates.But the caves most famous residents are the Oil birds. These are the only nocturnal fruit eating birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the same way as the bats.

Wikipedia article: Aripo Cave;  Photo: Oilbird