CAYMAN NET NEWS (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) 03 March 06 Twenty Cayman Islands’ turtles head for new lives in Europe
The Cayman Turtle Farm at Boatswain’s Beach has sent twenty of its captive bred farm raised turtles to Sea Life Centres (SLC) in the UK in what is believed to be the largest transatlantic shipment of this species to date.
Boatswain’s Beach Curator for Marine and Research, Catherine Bell, explained that this exciting project that has been in progress for over a year represents an enormous opportunity to raise awareness within Europe for the plight of the endangered green sea turtle.
SLC now has 21 operations in seven countries throughout Europe and as such is one of the largest of its kind on the continent.
The turtles will be distributed initially to six aquariums throughout Europe (Weymouth, UK;, Great Yarmouth, UK; Brighton, UK; Paris, France; Blankenberg, Holland; and Sveceningen, Belgium) all of which belong to SLC.
The turtles that remain at the Weymouth facility in the UK will be housed at a newly and specially built 250,000 pound Turtle Sanctuary.
Ms. Bell said the turtles on display in the UK and throughout Europe will promote this year’s ‘Save Our Seas’ programme at the SLC. The initiative aims, through display of the turtles in these aquariums, to raise 500,000 Euros for the construction of a much-needed Sea Turtle Rescue and Wildlife Information Centre on the Greek island of Zakynthos which hosts 80 percent of the nests of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles.
“This project has been initiated with the primary goal of promoting awareness and education in regards to marine turtles in the wild as an endangered species,” she said.
“In addition, it will promote awareness on the potential contribution of sustainable use programmes to the conservation of wild populations.
Furthermore, it will promote awareness on the marine turtle related culture and traditions in the Cayman Islands and the contribution of the Cayman Turtle Farm to the continuation of these traditions.
The project will also create a foundation for Sea Life to contribute to and support Cayman Turtle Farm led research projects, which aim to promote conservation of the green sea turtle both in the wild and through sustainable use.”
Wild Production, a UK based television station, documented the arrival of the turtles into the UK for broadcast on their Animal Planet channel.
This production will also be presented to the BBC children’s news show ‘Newsround’, breakfast shows ‘BBC Breakfast’ and ‘GMTV’, Sky News and Channel 5 news.The protocol for this transatlantic shipment was developed with the support of guidelines recommended by the US Sea Turtle Working Group and individuals at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Live Animal Transport Division.
SLC sent their Veterinarian Sue Thornton and Research Curator Peter Jones to the Cayman Islands to assist in the transfer. British Airways flew the animals direct to the UK and all animals arrived safe and well, due to the expert handling and attention of the staff at Heathrow’s Animal Reception Centre.
Ms. Bell also accompanied the turtles to the new location in the UK to ensure all went well during the transfer. The turtles are now happily adjusting to their new homes in the UK.
Twenty Cayman Islands’ turtles head for new lives in Europe