16/10/12 Update from Curieuse Island
The treks up to the Coco der
Mers, which at first seemed exceptionally challenging are becoming slightly
easier and once at the top our days have proven to be very successful. Last week after scrambling through coco plum
bushes and avoiding surfing down the hill on dead palm leaves, we managed to
record 56 trees including some impressive sized females with maturing nuts.
We spent an indulgent and
relaxing weekend bike riding and sipping drinks by the pool on the beautiful
island of La Digue. Jamie joined us on Saturday afternoon after an awe
inspiring dive where she was lucky enough to see a small shark, countless
beautiful fish and 3 gorgeous hawksbills. Safe to say the rest of us were all a
tad jealous of that!
Back to work on Monday and what
an incredible start to the week it was!
Five of us hiked to Grand Anse to spend the day doing beach patrols. After
having already spotted 3 sets of Hawksbill tracks and laid nests, Carol then stumbled
upon a Green turtle hatchling straggler! We managed to find the nest about 2
meters away and after digging about 70 cm down to the egg chamber found 3 more
stragglers. The others raced to the beach from the mangroves and we all watched
proudly, and with exceptionally girly squeals of excitement, as our little
greens scampered down the beach to their new home in the sea. The hard work is
definitely worth it when that is the reward.
A few of us had ‘mountain goat
training’ with the ever energetic Esme as we scrambled through mangrove roots
and over boulders to reach Anse Mandarin where we recorded a Hawksbill nest
that had been spotted from the sea the day before.
Today after completing the long
and short turtle walks, having had success on the short one, we were rewarded
for our efforts with a lovely snorkel around Anse Papaie where we saw coral
fish of all varieties, a placid male Hawksbill and a juvenile Green, what
amazing luck!
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