Loggerhead turtle found in the possession of a Grand Bahamian man was released back into the ocean due to the quick thinking action of local officials. (Photo by Freeport News.)

Waterkeepers Bahamas and Save The Bays today joined forces to praise officers and officials in Grand Bahama for quick thinking and action, arresting and charging a man with illegal possession of a protected loggerhead turtle and releasing the turtle back into the ocean. It was the first arrest for a marine animal violation in Grand Bahama in 12 years and the first in the nation since The Bahamas passed legislation banning the capture or sale of sea turtles in 2009. 

“This was an example of the system working exactly as it should,” said Save The Bays Chairman Joseph Darville. “According to published reports that we followed with great appreciation, a police officer on routine patrol saw the truck a quarter of a mile from the beach and spotted the huge turtle in the back. Knowing that turtles were protected under the law that bans capture, sale and slaughter, the officer contacted the Assistant Superintendent of Fisheries with the Ministry of Marine Resources in Grand Bahama, Clement Campbell.

“Mr. Campbell immediately responded and questioned the young man who reportedly told him he found the turtle by the side of the road, an explanation which Mr. Campbell found questionable. Even if it were true, it would still be a violation of the law which is very clear about possession or sale of turtles or any part of a turtle, including eggs. If the gentleman found the turtle by the side of the road, the honourable thing to do would have been to report it, document it with his phone as he got help to lift it and get it back to the sea as quickly and safely as he could.”

“That gentleman could have been a hero instead of facing charges and another court appearance.”

The Freeport News broke the story about the incident which occurred around 5:30 pm Saturday, August 20 near Bahama Beach, West End, an area favoured for its rich fishing grounds. Fishermen in Grand Bahama have complained that turtles are eating crawfish and juvenile conch, but says Darville, who heads the popular environmental group and is a monitor for Waterkeepers Bahamas, those fishermen who complain are not crediting turtles for the critical role they play in nurturing conch, crawfish and fish populations.

“Nearly every part of the turtle contributes to the health of the sea,” said Darville. “The shell has been referred to as the garden of the sea. Up to 100 species of animal and plant life have been found on a turtle’s back. And because turtles are bottom feeders, they stir up and aerate the sand providing nutritional benefits. Perhaps most importantly, a turtle is not just garden, but gardener, eating sea grass and keeping it trimmed, creating a nursery for conch, fish and crawfish.”

Darville and Grand Bahama Waterkeeper Executive Director Rashema Ingraham lauded the Bahamas National Trust’s approval of the official action, Ingraham saying it represented a rallying point for partner organisations dedicated to preserving the environment.

“If we gave out awards, my vote would be for Clement Campbell and those on his team who rushed to the scene, carried out their responsibilities with conviction, and performed the rescue, upholding Regulation 29 (a) of Chapter 244, dealing with the possession of a marine mammal without proper permission,” said Ingraham.

“Thanks to them, today there is a 100-lb loggerhead turtle swimming freely, doing its part in the marine eco-chain and it never endured the pain of having its head chopped off and its life coming to a cruel and heinous end.”

Save The Bays, with more than 20,000 Facebook friends and nearly 7,000 signatures on its petition, is advocating for freedom of information, an end to unregulated development, a comprehensive environmental protection act and more. Its work includes supporting youth environmental summer camps, environmental training and hands-on experiences.

Its chairman, Darville, a retired educator and counselor who holds a certification in climate change training, is not immune to the calls of the fishermen who want the turtle ban reviewed, but urges that the law be retained as is.

“I remember eating turtle as a child and how sweet that meat was,” he said. “But that was before…There was a lot of stuff we did back then because we didn’t know any better. Now with all the threats facing the turtle population – illegal fishing, habitat loss, climate change, marine pollution – and with our better understanding of their importance to the ecological chain, we must show this remarkable species the respect and protection it so richly deserves. The Bahamas received worldwide attention and applause for protecting sea turtles and there is no way we should consider moving backward now.”

By Alex Dorsett

Diane Phillips & Associates

From left: Dr. Ethan Freid, botanist; Rose Charles, intern; BNT Executive Director Eric Carey; Antonette Hudson, intern; Brendan Toote, intern; and Falon Cartwright, Levy Preserve Manager.

Three College of The Bahamas students - Rose Charles, Brendan Toote, and Antonette Hudson - were selected as interns from 15 applicants by the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve on Eleuthera this summer.

They studied the natural history of the area over seven weeks under the guidance of Dr. Ethan Freid, the Preserve’s botanist. Dr. Freid is a former lecturer at the College of the Bahamas.

The internship programme provides students with field experience that can lead to future employment. This is the third year that internships have been offered by the Preserve, which is operated by the Bahamas National Trust.

Experts were on hand to provide the interns with instruction in botany and plant ecology, island geology, birds and reptiles. In addition to Dr. Freid, they included geologists Dr. John and Joan Mylroie of Mississippi State University, Scott Johnson of the BNT, and wildlife biologist Joe Wasilewski of Natural Selections.

Among other things, the interns learned to recognize 100 common Bahamian plant species and helped install a new forest plot along one of the Preserve’s nature trails.

They also conducted their own research projects. Antonette focused on dune ecology and invasive species at different beaches. Brendan assessed bird diversity based on available habitat. And Rose examined forest growth in relation to weather patterns.

Their initial findings were presented at a special BNT staff meeting at the Retreat in Nassau. All three will continue their research independently with a view to presenting updated findings at the Bahamas Natural History Conference in spring 2018.

By Media Enterprises Ltd.

Tanglewoode’s on the Warpath (Scout) places 1st and 2nd in novice obedience achieving his CD Title.

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Kennel Club (BKC) travelled to Savannah, Georgia at the end of June to compete in the annual Savannah Dog Training Club’s Obedience Trials.

Competing in the trials were Amanda Meyers and Fox Hill’s Monkeying Around Bahamian potcake “Monkey”, Diane Fletcher and Blue Banner’s Big Bang Shetland sheepdog “Penny” and Lynn Gape and Tanglewoode’s on the Warpath Australian shepherd “Scout”.

The group was supported by Michael Albury, BKC director and Tonya Gay, BKC director and group trainer.

“We were very pleased with the performance of the participants at the show,” said Ms Gay of Follow the Leader Dog Training. “Everyone competed at a high level and qualified, as well as placed in several trials.”

“We continue to be impressed by our Bahamian participants,” said Carol Mett, show chair. “They do extremely well considering that many do not have the ring experience of many of the competitors. This is the 3rd year that some of the participants have competed and I continue to see improvement in their performance.”

The BKC members train as a group and have been supported by Purina (Bahamas Wholesale Agencies) who support the BKC’s Annual Dog Show in March and a special obedience trial and training in January each year.

“We are extremely grateful for the continued support of Purina for our training as well as the support for our January trial. We also appreciate the service provide by Saga Boy Air Charters which allows us to travel with our dogs inside (the) passenger cabin to Ft Lauderdale,” said Lynn Gape, BKC vice-president.

Achievements at the show were: Fox Hill’s Monkeying Around (Monkey)- two rally novice legs; Blue Banner’s Big Bang (Penny) - two rally novice legs, placed 2nd and 3rd, and one beginner novice Leg; Tanglewoode’s on the Warpath (Scout): - two novice obedience legs placing 1st and 2nd as well as AKC CD and one rally advanced leg.

For more information about obedience and agility training contact info@bahamaskc.org.

A handful of extremely rare lizards have been bred by scientists.

Eleven Lesser Antillean iguanas have hatched at facilities managed by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, based in Jersey.

The emergence of the hatchlings is significant, as the Lesser Antillean iguana is now considered to be critically endangered in the wild.

The hatchlings (Credit: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust)

Found only on a few islands in the Caribbean, the lizard is threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting. Invasive predators, including feral and pet cats and dogs, have also killed many.

But perhaps the greatest threat is now posed by a relative of the Lesser Antillean iguana.

The far more common green iguana is now spreading into the range of its rarer relative, and cross-breeding with it, threatening its future survival.

The new hatchlings will help efforts to breed and conserve the Lesser Antillean iguana, and Durrell is the only place that has successfully managed to breed this species.

Their appearance is also significant as "it's the first breeding success of a second generation in captivity," says Matt Goetz, Durrell's Head of Herpetology.

The next generation (Credit: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust)

"This year's youngsters are the offspring of an adult pair that hatched at Durrell in 2011. This proves to us that we have reared the previous offspring in the best possible conditions."

As well as supporting efforts to preserve the remaining in the wild, says Matt Goetz, "the youngsters will be sent to zoos around Europe, which we hope will promote and support the urgent conservation work for this species in the Caribbean."

By Matt Walker

bbc.com