Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase discusses how the spread of disease is being curbed in Antarctica through the knowledge and co-operative efforts of scientists and tour operators. Lessons in community and communication that bear being echoed in other ecotourist destinations.   Avian influenza virus (HPAI – highly pathogenic avian influenza -   H5N1 strain) has been confirmed on the continent of Antarctica. Samples were taken from two dead skua birds found by Argentinian scientists near Antarctic base Primavera. Since then, other confirmed cases include one Adelie penguin on Beagle Island and an Antarctic Shag farther south along the coast. In October 2023, the first confirmed case of Avian Flu was recorded in the Sub-Antarctic Islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands as well as the Falkland Islands. Today, the infected species on the island include a range of bird species – skuas, albatross, a gentoo penguin, and even an elephant seal. The genetic assessment of th

  Pat Ganase encourages Trinbagonians to enjoy nature in these retreats on our islands. “Tobago has always had ecotourism,” says one environmentalist engaged in tourism. And Trinidad? The country’s best known ecotourism destination prides itself on attracting visitors from all over the world for close to 60 years. Who are these ecotourists that come from elsewhere, to be charmed by where we live here: the nature of forests and seashores and the animals and plants therein. Do they always need to be foreigners.   The best thing about eco-tourism is that everyone can enjoy it, learn from it and become better citizen stewards of our own country.   It does not require massive infrastructure, but does depend on strategic investments in long-term management of natural resources. Perhaps the most important foundation is respect for natural spaces. Any vision of individual or community must be enhanced and supported through policy, conscious use and the reliability of necessary syste

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, looks at the bleak picture through the lens of the degradation of coral reefs worldwide, and what we must do to reverse the trend towards an unsustainable existence.   El Niño climate conditions aggravated by man-made global heating caused mass bleaching on coral reefs in the northern hemisphere during the summer of 2023, and brought devastation and mortality to reefs throughout the Caribbean. In Tobago, above average temperatures persisted for three months (September to November 2023). Over the past month, these conditions have delivered a deadly blow to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Anomalously high ocean temperatures have been washing over the reefs for at least ten weeks, similar to the heat waves experienced in Caribbean.   Initial reports from the Australian Institute of Marine Science who conducted aerial surveys state that broadscale mass bleaching has occurred along the shallow reefs in the impacted regi

Faraaz Abdool advocates eco-tourism – using the example of Costa Rica – as the way to preserve Trinidad and Tobago’s natural diversity and create a people-based economy. Could the people of Trinidad and Tobago get behind such a bold initiative?   Life is a dynamic, fluid experience, and we could do ourselves a tremendous favour by ensuring that the process of learning – and therefore growth – is continuous. This holds true for the individual, as well as for the collective. The word “ecotourism” is gaining traction in conversations throughout the region, and while it may be new ground for us, there are many countries that have been sustainably utilizing their natural wealth for economic gain.   Within the discussion of nature-based tourism, few places are mentioned as frequently as Costa Rica. Often hailed as the gold standard of ecotourism, Costa Rica is the most visited nation in Central America and one of the most popular destinations in the world. Visitors flock to the relat

Dr Anjani Ganase advocates diving education for everyone who lives by the sea or wants to be in the sea. The sea makes islands liveable. She dives the Tobago coral reefs at Speyside with San Fernando's ASJA Boys.   We arrived at Speyside around 9 am, the sun was out, and the conditions were perfect for diving. Aquamarine water wrapped around Goat Island and Little Tobago. There was a bustling excitement at the Dive Shop. Dive suits were being fitted, forms were being signed and eager parents were on the sidelines watching on. This weekend, I was going out diving for the first time with the ASJA Boys Scuba Diving and Reef Conservation Club. As a coral reef scientist in Trinidad and Tobago, I’m always keen to show students what I do and excited to foster interest in the fields of marine science. Life on islands requires us to see the ocean as part of our territory, our responsibility and culture.   We only had a couple days to prepare, two lectures in the w