Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Thursday 13 april 2017

Leatherback Sea Turtle Season has Started on Aruba

EAGLE BEACH - Have you protects the sea turtles on turn all lights off, including
noticed the turtle informa- Aruba, expects this Leath- flashlights, flash photogra-
tion signs along the Boule- erback will come back phy and video equipment.
vard at Eagle Beach - one for more nests. At this mo- “Sea turtles dig the dark.”
in front of Paradise Beach ment a lot of (local) peo- - Ask your hotel manager
Villa’s and another one ple is camping on Aruba’s to turn off or minimize the
close to Costa Linda Beach beaches. For that reason lights that are visible on the
Resort? Turtugaruba wants to share beach in front of the resort.
The signs are called some guidelines so every- Close the curtains of your
“Driekiel-O-Meters” with in- body can act responsible if room at night to prevent
formation about the Leath- a sea turtle shows up. light shining on the beach.
erback Sea Turtle, locally Normally “Sea Turtles Dig -Do not drive on beaches.
called Driekiel. The Dark”, they come Not all of the turtle nests
The Leatherback Sea Tur- ashore at night, being less on all the beaches around
tles nesting on Aruba don’t visible for predators. It is Aruba are marked. Vehi-
live in the Caribbean, but in very impressive to see a cles (4x4, quads) compact
the Northern part of the At- huge sea turtle coming the sand and can crush the
lantic Ocean, off the coast ashore, enjoy the sight, but eggs. or may even trap them. to the sea.
of Nova Scotia, Canada. make sure that the turtle -Do not litter. Do not leave So don’t leave any beach -Do call Turtugaruba (24
But they are born on Aru- does not see you! Stay out any plastic cups or bags chairs at night unattended hour Turtle Hotline: (297)
ba’s beaches. After 20 – 30 of her sight at a distance of on the beach. The wind close to the sea, but make 592-9393.
years they reach maturity at least 10 meters. will blow it into the sea. A a stack as far as possible Follow Turtugaruba at
and then return to their na- All species of sea turtles are floating plastic bag is easily away from the water. www.facebook.com/Tur-
tal beach in order to nest endangered and need our mistaken for a jellyfish, the -Do not disturb a nesting tugaruba
during the turtle nesting protection. Leatherback Sea Turtle’s sea turtle. Do not attempt -If you witness a sea turtle,
season of March – July. What you can do to pro- favorite food. to touch the turtle but stay or if you see turtle crawl
This year’s first Leatherback tect sea turtles: -Remove obstacles from at a respectful distance (at marks, during a late eve-
female made three nests -Lights out for sea turtles. the beach. Obstacles as least 10 meters). Do allow ning or early morning stroll
so far. Normally one female Nighttime activities and beach furniture or recre- the turtle to complete the on the beach please do
makes about 7 nests per artificial lighting may deter ational equipment may full nesting process (about call Turtugaruba or notify
season. So Turtugaruba, adult females from nest- cause nesting females to two hours) and don’t be in the front desk of your hotel.
the local foundation that ing. So PLEASE keep or abort their nesting attempt her way when she returns Thanks!q