Page 11 - AHATA

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local Friday 20 June 2025
Sea turtle conservation by Turtugaruba Foundation

There are 4 different species of sea turtle that
visit Aruba to lay their eggs, each with their own
specific season:
- Leatherback Sea Turtle - Lederschildpad - Driekiel
(March – September)
- Loggerhead Sea Turtle - Dikkopschildpad -
Cawama (May – September)
- Hawksbill Sea Turtle - Karetschildpad - Caret
(June – December)
- Green Turtle - Soepschildpad - Turtuga Blanco
(July-November)

Investigators also reached a better understanding
and overview of the biggest threats to the sea under control. However, for long-term prevention,
ORANJESTAD ― Turtugaruba was founded on turtles’ existence in Aruba and how these prob- there must be less light visible on the beaches and
September 3rd, 2003, by a group of enthusiastic lems should be tackled. Despite the hard work a strict regulation of it. Sea turtles simply need
volunteers. Ten years earlier in 1993, a Sea Turtle all those years, most problems have not really dark nesting beaches for their survival. It is clear
Recovery Action Plan (STRAP) was introduced in gone away. Luckily—and thanks to the enormous that even more coastal development would not
Aruba and the rest of the Caribbean as an initiative efforts from the volunteers, the sea turtles are still make the situation better for the sea turtles. Do
of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). here. On Aruba, the sea turtles are threatened we need more hotel rooms? And even busier
Tom Barmes, who was working at DLVV (Deptart- with extinction by pollution, people driving ATVs beaches? These are the choices that Aruba has
ment of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fishery) was on dunes and beaches and the loss of nesting to make. Do we want to leave a place for the sea
one of the writers of the STRAP for Aruba, together beaches due to coastal development for tour- turtles? Not only do we need sea turtles, but so
with Karen Eckert, director of WIDECAST (Wider ism. Because coastal development comes with does the rest of the world! Sea turtles play a vital
Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network). This artificial lighting, these can cause major issues for role in keeping our oceans healthy. The Green
is how sea turtle conservation started on the island sea turtles. Female turtles usually come ashore Turtle, for example, keeps the sea grasses on the
following a plan that is still complied with today. at night looking for a dark beach to make her bottom of the sea short and therefore a healthy
nest. However, a dark beach is hard to find here place for many fish to deposit their eggs. The
Tom formed a group of volunteers around him nowadays. Light causes stress and can result in Leatherback, the largest turtle of the world, eats
like an organization such as DLVV, because her returning to the sea without laying her eggs. mainly jellyfish and helps maintain the balance
nature does not know office hours. This group Furthermore, artificial lighting causes disorienta- between jellyfish and plankton.
of volunteers used the name Widecast Aruba tion for the baby sea turtles (hatchlings).
and today there are still a few of them active. Despite the threats that exist on Aruba, the turtles
They first started protecting the Leatherback Sea They crawl towards artificial light sources (like still keep coming. That’s why today Turtugaruba is
Turtle nests on Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. streetlights, hotel lights, etc.) and end up walking especially proud of the volunteers and the many
This group also investigated which other species in the opposite direction towards the hotels and people and organizations of our community that
of sea turtles use Aruba as their nesting habitat away from the sea. In the 90’s, it was a common carry a warm place in their hearts for the sea
and which beaches are used by them. For a pe- occurrence to find complete nests of about 70 turtles. All four species are active now, which
riod of 25 years, a study has been conducted in hatchlings dead on the street due to being run means all hands on deck in the field for us, the
which investigators monitored the beaches every over by passing cars. Thanks to their protection volunteers. We strive to keep the sea turtles, our
morning to study turtle movement. Now, there is methods and a lot of time and effort, the volun- oldest ‘repeat guests’, always coming back to
a good overview of sea turtle nesting activities. teers of Turtugaruba have managed to get this Aruba and get the chance to reproduce here.q

Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

(Oranjestad)—After you’ve visited the Alto Vis-
ta Church, the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and The bridge was formed during thousands of
the mini natural pool that is located right next years, cut and crafted by the wild waves that
to it, you’re next up around the northern coast crash into the coral stone walls of the coast.
line must be the Natural Bridge. Once the larg- Before its collapse, this bridge measured 30
est natural bridge in the Caribbean, this bridge meters in length and 7 meters in height, mak-
has been a tourist attraction for many years. ing it the biggest natural bridge in the Carib-
bean at the time. For many years, this site was
also a frequently visited beach, as the bridge
had a small opening through which the water
would flow into the tiny beach.

Unfortunately in 2005, the bridge collapsed,
and the little beach dried up. Despite this,
this site remained a tourist attraction, with
many visitors walking along the coral cliffs of
the bridge to see the spectacular view of the
northern coastline and the Caribbean Sea.
Visitors can also still visit the souvenir shop on
the left of the bridge entrance.

While the natural bridge no longer is function-
al, there is now a smaller natural bridge very
close. This bridge is often called the “Baby
Bridge” or “Daughter Bridge”.q