Succesful Training Turtle Watch Guides

Although a little bit sleepy and tired after five hours behind the steering wheel, I and the rest of the team (Yosvani, a young marine turtle scientist and Yanet, my wife and marine turtle specialist at Flora y Fauna, a local conservation company) were pleasantly surprised when we got into the conference room at the National Park ranger station and Visitor Center: more than 15 park staff, headed by its Director Lázaro Márquez and some members of the small local community La Bajada were dutifully sitting and anxiously waiting for our presentations.

During the seminar we offered presentations on the biology, natural history, curiosities and specificities about sea turtles, their main threats and alternatives to foster conservation of these species. Our audience was really interested in dialoguing with us, because they could know the scientific explanation of several local myths about marine turtles. They for instance learned that, although green turtles are the most common in Guanahacabibes, some loggerheads also nest in its beaches. They also learned that some very dark turtles are just a variety of green turtle, instead of a different species, as locally believed; and that although turtles mate for hours it is not true that they do it for more than a month as many old fishermen say. And they asked so many questions and learned many other interesting things that I cannot repeat them all here, because I would have to write a book.

Taking examples from all over the world, we also showed to the audience several cases of good and bad practices on marine turtle tourism, so they could learn how to better manage the visitors. The attendees discussed what visitor practices would have to be changed in the park, in order to allow them to carefully approach the nets for having an unforgettable experience, while making sure they do not pose a threat to the conservation of these wonderful animals, whose ancestors were swimming primitive seas even before the dinosaurs populated the Earth.

Finally, we realised that the time was running faster than ever: we had been there giving presentations, talking, answering questions and discussing so many interesting things, that despite it was almost 3:00 PM and everybody was starving, everybody still had some more questions and concerns. So our commitment was to come back and we will be doing it soon. The nesting season is opening in Guanahacabibes and WWF and our local partners will be coming back here to provide monitoring training and support and to continue our researches.

And after a late and wonderful lunch at the Maria La Gorda Resort, we drove back our long journey to Havana, tired to death, but at the same time satisfied with a very productive day for the conservation and better understanding of these unique, loving creatures: the marine turtles.