| Turtles may have hard shells but they are not | | | | area develops to enhance the capacity for the |
| adequately protected against the threat man | | | | tourist industry, the turtle's natural territory is |
| represents to their survival. Wildlife conservation | | | | reduced. Furthermore, with increasing visitors to the |
| activists have identified a number of ways human | | | | area, the turtles suffer disruption on beaches that |
| influence threatens the survival of turtles, and have | | | | were previously peaceful enough for them to settle. |
| initiated the animal conservation work that aims to | | | | Part of the wildlife conservation effort in Goa |
| repair the damage to the species. | | | | involves guarding nesting grounds where pregnant |
| The turtle is a creature with widespread appeal. It is | | | | turtles and their young are most vulnerable. If this |
| seemingly peaceful and graceful in the water, slow | | | | kind of work appeals to you, you might be interested |
| and charmingly ungainly on land. It is always a treat | | | | to hear that you can take part in animal conservation |
| for scuba divers when they encounter a turtle | | | | work of this type as part of a gap year for adults |
| around reefs or swimming in the open sea. The sad | | | | trip. |
| truth for wildlife conservation is that many turtle | | | | Light Pollution |
| species are struggling to survive in the wild as their | | | | Light pollution is traditionally a concern for nocturnal |
| habitats are disrupted by human activity. The better | | | | animals, but it can be critical in the lives of turtles, |
| known Loggerhead and Green turtle species are | | | | too. The timing of hatchings often coincides with a |
| endangered, with many lesser known species critically | | | | full moon, because the newborns instinctively head |
| endangered. Some, like the black soft shell turtle, are | | | | towards the light to reach the sea. As a result, |
| already extinct in the wild. | | | | newborn baby turtles can be confused by street |
| Turtles in Goa | | | | lights and houses, which cause them to head away |
| An example of the animal conservation work being | | | | from the sea when they should be crawling towards |
| done to counter this is a turtle preservation | | | | the relative safety of the water. On a gap year for |
| programme in Goa, where wildlife conservation | | | | adults wildlife conservation project, you will take part |
| activists at the Turtle Protection Centre have | | | | in campaigns to educate locals about ways to reduce |
| reported that thirty five turtle nests have declined to | | | | the impact of artificial light on the turtles. |
| just seven over the last ten years. | | | | Litter |
| Nesting sites are where turtles are particularly | | | | The litter created by tourists or careless locals is |
| vulnerable because newborn turtles must brave the | | | | often mistaken by turtles as food. Plastic is especially |
| short but difficult route from the nest to the ocean, | | | | hazardous because it cannot be digested and it |
| and because the sites suitable for nesting are | | | | resembles the favourite food of turtles: the jellyfish. |
| themselves declining in number. Accordingly the focus | | | | This means that turtles are often found starved to |
| of animal conservation work is protecting these | | | | death with plastic coating their stomachs. Wildlife |
| nesting sites. Only around one in a thousand of | | | | conservation schemes usually involve collecting |
| newborn turtles will grow to become adults, which | | | | rubbish from areas of beach near turtle nesting sites. |
| means succeeding generations are dwindling in size. | | | | On gap year for adults trip of this kind in Goa, you |
| Encroaching Tourism | | | | get to enjoy the beauty of the local environment |
| Goa is a prime example of a place where tourism is | | | | while helping the efforts of a conservation project to |
| having a negative effect on turtle populations. As the | | | | preserve it. |