Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Monday 3 april 2017
The Leatherback Turtle Season has Started on Aruba!

EAGLE BEACH - Two weeks we can see on the Driekiel- name Driekiel-O-Meter for
ago the first Leatherback O-Meter sign there are the big sign placed along
nest of this year was found two nests now. The Leath- the Boulevard at Eagle
on the beach in front of erback Sea Turtle is locally Beach, in front of Paradise
Amsterdam Manor and as called Driekiel, hence the Beach Villa’s. You can find

a lot of information on this Last year a total of 20 nests
sign. The Leatherback Sea were counted on Eagle
Turtle (Dermochelyscoria- Beach, laid by just two dif-
cea) is the largest of the ferent females. Those two
seven species of sea turtles did a splendid job, above
living in the world’s oceans the average. But in general
today. Aruba is proud to 2016 was not a very abun-
welcome these magnifi- dant Leatherback nesting
cent animals every year. year, not here on Aruba
They are the oldest “repeat and neither in the rest of
guests” of the island. the Caribbean region. Let’s
The Leatherback Sea Turtle see what 2017 will bring us!
does not live in the Carib- Leatherbacks can be found
bean Sea, but in the North- not only at Eagle Beach/
ern part of the Atlantic Low Rise area, but also
Ocean. Every 2-4 years the at other sandy beaches
adult female will return to like Arashi, Andicuri, Boca
lay her eggs on the beach Grandi.] If you find tracks/
where she herself was born. activity of a sea turtle on
She does not lay just one the beach, please call the
nest, but repeat the egg Turtle Hotline as soon as
laying every 8-12 days with possible. Thanks!
an average of seven nests More info:
per season. The eggs need turtugaruba@hotmail.com-
60 – 70 days of incuba- www.facebook.com/Tur-
tion, so it will take about tugaruba
two months to see the little Turtle Hotline (297) 592-
hatchings leaving the nest. 9393.