Latest news with #Loggerhead
eNCA
a day ago
- Health
- eNCA
Kenya NGO saves turtles from nets, plastic and rising tides
WATAMU - A small charity on the Kenyan coast has become vital to the region's majestic turtle population, saving thousands from poachers, fishermen's nets and ever-worsening plastic pollution. On the beach of the seaside town of Watamu, it takes four men to heave the huge Loggerhead sea turtle into the back of a car. She has just been saved from a fishing tackle and will be taken to a nearby clinic to be checked for injuries, then weighed, tagged and released back into the sea. A Kenyan NGO, Local Ocean Conservation (LOC), has been doing this work for almost three decades and has carried out some 24,000 rescues. "Every time I release a turtle, it's a really great joy for me. My motivation gets stronger and stronger," said Fikiri Kiponda, who has been part of LOC's 20-odd staff for 16 years. LOC began life in 1997 as a group of volunteers who hated seeing the creatures being eaten or dying in nets. Turtles are still poached for their shells, meat and oil. AFP | Fredrik Lerneryd But through the charity's awareness campaigns in schools and villages, "perceptions have significantly changed", said Kiponda. LOC, which relies mostly on donations, compensates fishermen for bringing them injured turtles. More than 1,000 fishermen participate in the scheme and mostly do so for the sake of conservation, the charity emphasises, since the reward does not offset the hours of lost labour. - Floating turtles - At the NGO's nearby clinic, health coordinator Lameck Maitha, 34, says turtles are often treated for broken bones and tumours caused by a disease called Fibropapillomatosis. AFP | Fredrik Lerneryd One current in-patient is Safari, a young Olive Ridley turtle around 15 years old -- turtles can live beyond 100 -- transported by plane from further up the coast. She arrived in a dire state, barely alive and with a bone protruding from her flipper, which ultimately had to be amputated -- likely the result of fighting to free herself from a fisherman's net. Safari has been recovering well and the clinic hopes she can return to the sea. Other frequent tasks include removing barnacles that embed themselves in shells and flippers, weakening their host. But a growing danger is plastic pollution. AFP | Fredrik Lerneryd If a turtle eats plastic, it can create a blockage that in turn creates gas, making the turtle float and unable to dive. In these cases, the clinic gives the turtle laxatives to clear out its system. "We are seeing more and more floating turtles because the ocean has so much plastic," said Maitha. - Survivors - LOC also works to protect 50 to 100 nesting sites, threatened by rising sea levels. AFP | Fredrik Lerneryd Turtles travel far and wide but always lay their eggs on the beach where they were born, and Watamu is one of the most popular spots. Every three or four years, they produce hundreds of eggs, laid during multiple sessions over several months, that hatch after around 60 days. The charity often relocates eggs that have been laid too close to the sea. Marine biologist Joey Ngunu, LOC's technical manager, always calls the first to appear Kevin. "And once Kevin comes out, the rest follow," he said with a smile, describing the slow, clumsy procession to the water, preferably at night to avoid predators as much as possible. AFP | Fredrik Lerneryd
France 24
2 days ago
- General
- France 24
Kenya NGO saves turtles from nets, plastic and rising tides
On the beach of the seaside town of Watamu, it takes four men to heave the huge Loggerhead sea turtle into the back of a car. She has just been saved from a fishing tackle and will be taken to a nearby clinic to be checked for injuries, then weighed, tagged and released back into the sea. A Kenyan NGO, Local Ocean Conservation (LOC), has been doing this work for almost three decades and has carried out some 24,000 rescues. "Every time I release a turtle, it's a really great joy for me. My motivation gets stronger and stronger," said Fikiri Kiponda, 47, who has been part of LOC's 20-odd staff for 16 years. LOC began life in 1997 as a group of volunteers who hated seeing the creatures being eaten or dying in nets. Turtles are still poached for their shells, meat and oil. But through the charity's awareness campaigns in schools and villages, "perceptions have significantly changed", said Kiponda. LOC, which relies mostly on donations, compensates fishermen for bringing them injured turtles. More than 1,000 fishermen participate in the scheme and mostly do so for the sake of conservation, the charity emphasises, since the reward does not offset the hours of lost labour. Floating turtles At the NGO's nearby clinic, health coordinator Lameck Maitha, 34, says turtles are often treated for broken bones and tumours caused by a disease called Fibropapillomatosis. One current in-patient is Safari, a young Olive Ridley turtle around 15 years old -- turtles can live beyond 100 -- transported by plane from further up the coast. She arrived in a dire state, barely alive and with a bone protruding from her flipper, which ultimately had to be amputated -- likely the result of fighting to free herself from a fisherman's net. Safari has been recovering well and the clinic hopes she can return to the sea. Other frequent tasks include removing barnacles that embed themselves in shells and flippers, weakening their host. But a growing danger is plastic pollution. If a turtle eats plastic, it can create a blockage that in turn creates gas, making the turtle float and unable to dive. In these cases, the clinic gives the turtle laxatives to clear out its system. "We are seeing more and more floating turtles because the ocean has so much plastic," said Maitha. Survivors LOC also works to protect 50 to 100 nesting sites, threatened by rising sea levels. Turtles travel far and wide but always lay their eggs on the beach where they were born, and Watamu is one of the most popular spots. Every three or four years, they produce hundreds of eggs, laid during multiple sessions over several months, that hatch after around 60 days. The charity often relocates eggs that have been laid too close to the sea. Marine biologist Joey Ngunu, LOC's technical manager, always calls the first to appear Kevin. "And once Kevin comes out, the rest follow," he said with a smile, describing the slow, clumsy procession to the water, preferably at night to avoid predators as much as possible. Only one in a thousand reaches adulthood of 20-25 years. "Living in the sea as a turtle must be crazy. You have to face so many dangers, fish and poachers, and now human pressure with plastic and commercial fishing," he said. "Turtles are definitely survivors." © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
First Loggerhead sea turtle nest found in Dam Neck
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The first Loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season was discovered at the Dam Neck Annex by Naval Air Station Oceana May 21. It is the earliest recording of a nest at the Annex and the second-earliest recording in the state of Virginia. According to NAS Oceana, the team secured the area and posted signs to protect sea turtles. Sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act, making it illegal to harm or harass them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sea turtle nesting season could surge on Tybee – how you can help
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) — It's that time of year again along the Georgia Coast – sea turtle nesting season is officially underway. Thousands of visitors flock to Tybee Island and Georgia's Coasts each summer, but some of the most important guests arrive under the cover of night. While beachgoers enjoy Tybee's sunny shores, what happens after dark is truly summer, loggerhead sea turtles return to nest, and the Island steps up to ensure they're safe. Nesting season is underway on Tybee Island, running May through October. To keep hatchlings from getting disoriented, all lights on the beach must be turned off at dark. Wildlife experts predict 2025 to be a strong year for nesting following a three-year cycle seen in Georgia's Loggerhead population. Loggerhead Sea Turtles lay up to 120 eggs at night, and volunteers mark the nests each morning to protect them. Experts expect more nests this year, and the Tybee Marine Science Center continues to educate visitors, with help from their resident sea turtle. A Tybee ordinance states that your beachfront lights should he out from sunrise to sunset to help the turtles. And if you must use lights, make sure it is a red flashlight. How you can help the sea turtle– Lights out on Tybee: sunset to sunrise | May to October– Avoid nests & use red flashlights only– Clean up trash, flatten sandcastles, fill holes Sea turtle nesting season is a special time on Tybee, and even small actions can make a big difference for these hatchlings. Beachgoers can help by cleaning up trash, filling in holes, and flattening sandcastles for a successful nesting season here on Georgia's coast. It's a shared responsibility to help them reach the ocean safely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Group threatens lawsuit to end driving on American Beach over sea turtle and beachgoer safety
A local non-profit group is attempting to end beach driving on American Beach by bringing legal action against Nassau County. In a letter dated February 6th, the legal team for Save Historic American Beach issued a 60-day notice to Nassau County to address possible violations of the Endangered Species Act. Save Historic American Beach says it is the only residential beach community in Nassau County where beach driving is still allowed. It claims that drivers are doing damage to dunes and habitat for loggerhead and green sea turtles, while also increasing the risk of both humans and turtles being hit by cars. According to the notice, the legal team said this constitutes a 'take' banned by the Endangered Species Act. NOAA defines a take in this context as an action 'to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.' Read the full notice below: 'We want all citizens of and visitors to Nassau County to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Amelia Island including American Beach, and to do so safely without the threat of being run over by vehicles,' said the group over social media. 'We want sea turtles to be able to nest and hatchlings to triumphantly make their way to the sea without becoming trapped in deep ruts and tire tracks.' The group provided an image to the county, which it claims shows a 'squashed' Loggerhead sea turtle hatchling in the sand of American Beach in September of 2020. Nassau County retained legal representation and acknowledged the notice on March 14th, but denies any law violations. It also said there was no proof that the image was actually taken on its beach or that the death was caused by cars. 'Nassau County is not aware of any verified vehicular collision with live sea turtles in the unincorporated area of the county, including American Beach,' the response states. It also listed off other efforts by the county to protect sea turtles, like banning driving at night and camping when sea turtles are most known to be active. It is unclear if a lawsuit will actually be filed. Read the county's full acknowledgement below: [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
