Wild Tobago

A super hero lives in each of us. Dr Anjani Ganase chats with Super Me coach Jaime Lee Loy who is in Tobago this week helping kids to find their super powers. Follow @AnjGanase  on Twitter Jaime Lee Loy remembers: I actually remember pretending to be a superhero at five. I jumped off the double decker bed trying to fly and still have a scar from my collision with a sink. I also used to give lessons and do art with my stuffed animals and always played with my younger cousins despite a large age difference. Jaime Lee Loy grew up in big family and was always engaging in creative amusements and games with her cousins. Art was her avenue to express her emotional self and to deal with struggles in her life. So it was natural progression to what Jaime does today. Creating superheroes at Super Me, Summer Camp, Tobago I am a contemporary artist and writer with a strong interest and involvement in social and creative enterprise, behavioural psychology, children and educa...

Dr Anjani Ganase continues her series on climate change and what we should be doing. It is never too late to act, but only real conscious personal efforts will help us now. The change we need, she says, is in our minds and daily actions. The science on climate change has been clear for the last fifty years. We are seeing many of the effects, extreme weather conditions, islands lost to sea level rise, shifts in ecosystem ranges in birds, animals and plants, and mass die offs of coral reef life because of warming temperatures. They are, the scientists tell us, escalating and happening faster than predicted. How did we get here, and so quickly? 1. Let’s wait and see Policy Despite the warnings from scientists on the need to act for over fifty years, policy makers (and politicians) have opted for the conservative, wait and see approach on the impacts of climate change. Before spending funds on climate, maybe there’s a slight chance that this climate change thing may not be a thi...

Dr Anjani Ganase considers the lessons to be learned from the film documentary Chasing Coral. Screenings and discussion sessions are being organised by IYORTT (Trinidad and Tobago Initiative for International Year of the Reef) and secondary schools are encouraged to schedule a viewing. Chasing Coral allows us to follow the journeys of scientists, coral enthusiasts and filmmakers to record the devastating impacts of the third global coral bleaching event along the Great Barrier Reef. Chasing Coral documents the process of coral bleaching and extent of damage to the marine life that depend on these corals; and by extension the livelihoods sustained by this crucial ecosystem through coastal protection, food, income and recreation. Although much of the story is set in Australia, Chasing Coral tells of the dangers of losing coral reefs and the impacts on island nations, anywhere.  Here are a few questions that people have asked the IYORTT team about coral bleaching and climate ...

Faraaz Abdool invites us to look for birds in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. You don’t even have to look that hard to spot some of the splendid birds that call Tobago home. These photos of Tobago’s rainforest birds courtesy Faraaz Abdool. The Roxborough-Parlatuvier Road snakes over the spine of Tobago, through the oldest patch of protected rainforest in the western hemisphere. Protected since 1776, a few years after Tobago slipped under British rule, the Main Ridge Forest Reserve is home to many species of plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. As a region, the Caribbean’s habitat has changed drastically over the years, with rainforest suffering the most. Thankfully, the almost ten thousand acres of rainforest on Tobago remain a reserve.  Due to its height and proximity to the ocean, Main Ridge supports a large variety of birdlife. One is likely to see a Collared Trogon on the side of the road and then look up to see a flock of Magnificent F...

In July and August, children have opportunities to learn outside the schools. Dr Anjani Ganase looks at a couple camps that integrated coral reef exploration in their activity. In the International Year of the Reef (2018) , Trinidad and Tobago Initiative ( IYORTT ), one major aim is to engage and build awareness of coral reefs among children; and where better than at fun camps in the long school vacation. IYORTT team members have been visiting summer camps in Trinidad and Tobago to talk about the value of our coastal ecosystems and coral reefs, instilling a sense of stewardship and inspiration in the next generation. Our lessons in marine ecology were well received and nicely integrated into the current camp themes. Here are some highlights: Sea, Sun and Science with Buccoo Reef Trust Tobago Since 2002, the Buccoo Reef Trust has been hosting the programme Sea, Sun and Science (SSS) where budding scientists and explorers get the opportunity to learn about the diverse ma...