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Sea turtles Episode CLV- 155
Etnia Nativa facilitates cultural awareness, education
and safeguards Aruba’s heritage by elevating each
reader into an island keeper state of mind. Be encour-
aged to discover in every episode the true native ef-
fect, live it, get more reasons to love Aruba behind the
beaches and liven up your stay in an incredibly won-
derful way.
Our main objective is to educate our readers because
when you love and value what you have, the greatest
desire is to protect it.
We share awareness form out a local and native per-
spective, through respect and sustainability. It is so that
for thousand of years, before any human soul set foot house area. Turles are visitors who bring turtle is the largest of all, measuring 6–9
on this island, different species of marine reptiles used good omens we welcome every year. ft in length, 3–5 ft in width, and weighing
the islands fine sandy beaches to lay their egg clusters. They insipre and encourage us to con- up to 1500 lb. Other sea turtle species
That’s when 20 or 15 thousand years ago hunters and tinue promoting sustainable awarenes, are smaller, being mostly 2–4 ft long and
gatherers found thousand of sea turtles on our beach- care and respect for the environment. proportionally narrower.
es and they and their eggs where a great food source That their valuable presence to be re-
until time ago for native arubans. Now sea turtles are current and that we can all continue to How island community effords can re-
protected by law. see and protect them as a simbol of sur- ally make a difference. Turlte and their
vival, longevety and and a way of life egg are being protected.
Sea turtles visits, which used to occure on any sandy that sustained our fore fathers. There are
beach of Aruba, diminished almost completey. limiting seven different species of sea turtles: Four species of sea turtles are found
most egg laying activity to the west shores of the island flatback, green, hawksbill, leatherback, nesting on Aruba: The Leatherback, the
beaches. Today they are the beaches right in front of loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, and olive Loggerhead, the Green and the Hawks-
international hotels chains, steching towards the light ridley. Sea turtles can be separated into bill. The nesting season runs from March
the categories of hard-shelled (chelo- through September. Hatchling takes
niid) and leathery-shelled (dermoche- place from May to November.
lyid). There is only one dermochelyid
species which is the leatherback sea The top 3 snorkeling sites in Aruba to
turtle. For each of the seven types of spot sea turtles are: Tres Trapi - three
sea turtles, females and males are the steps in Papiamento. A little cove locat-
same size. ed on the northwestern shore of Aruba
just before Boca Catalina, Mango Halto
In general, sea turtles have a more fusi- and furthes on to Baby Beach located
form body construccion than their ter- in the most southern tip of island near
restrial or freshwater counterparts. This San Nicolas. In case of an submarines
tapering at both ends reduces volume encounter we recommend not to touch
and means that sea turtles cannot re- them as you may scare them off. While
tract their head and limbs into their shells their immune systems are not equipped
for protection, unlike many other turtles to fight off any chemicals that we might
and tortoises.However, the streamlined pass over by touching them. Don’t feed
body plan reduces friction and drag in them either, observe them calmly and
the water and allows sea turtles to swim give them some space so you don’t hit
more easily and swiftly. them with your flippers.
The four most common species in wa- If you love Aruba its origins and its cul-
ters of the Caribbean sea, are Leath- tural heritage, be part of the exclusive
erbacks, Green, Hawksbill and Logger- visitors of Etnia Nativa: a cozy museum/
head sea turtles. The leatherback sea home.
Etnia Nativa a private residential houses
collections of native art, archaeological
artifacts and historic furniture, while the
facilities themselves are the result of the
transformation of recycled materials.
Meet Anthony Croes, our columnist at
his home! Book your visit Whatsapp +
297 592 2702- or mail: etnianativa03@
gmail.com
