Wild Tobago

Faraaz Abdool is looking for the Abaco Parrot; and though the prognosis appears bleak, he is hoping that these ground-nesting birds found cover on other islands of the Bahamas during the long rain of Dorian. All photos by Faraaz Abdool Hurricanes are massive rotating weather systems packed with howling winds and torrential rain. Birds are tiny, feathered creatures, some weighing no more than a few grams. It’s almost unfathomable that many birds are able to weather storms which flatten entire habitats. The truth is the ability of a bird to survive one of these mega-storms depends on a few factors. Firstly, let’s consider how different birds deal with an approaching weather system. Some prefer to hunker down while others take to the sky in last-ditch attempts to escape. A particular species’ predisposition to stay or flee is crucial in determining how well it fares in extreme weather conditions. As a hurricane forms over the open ocean, seabirds are the firs...

One does not exist without the other it seems. Dr Anjani Ganase reminds us of the special relationship that comes with being small islands in the vast oceans that generate these storms. The Bahamas sits in the hurricane belt and has one of the highest, if not the highest, history of hurricane for the Caribbean. Its infrastructure and society is adapted for hurricanes. Yet, the devastation that Dorian has left is another reminder of how much we underestimate the impacts of climate change and how much we (humans) are lagging in preparing ourselves for the future of a changed climate. The only other Category 5 hurricane to pass directly over in the Bahamas in recent times was Hurricane Andrew, which had maximum wind speed of 265 km/hour and passed over Bahamas within 12 hours. Dorian, on the other hand, had maximum wind speed of 295 km/hour and sat over the Bahamas for over two days! The destructive winds, rainfall and storm surge devastated communities and this is only the most obviou...

Anjani Ganase, marine biologist, proposes greater respect and a different understanding of the place of sharks in ocean ecosystems When we think of sharks, we imagine them as bloodthirsty creatures, roaming the deep blue seas for unsuspecting beach-goers and swimmers. Growing up, movies such as Jaws and Deep Blue Sea instilled fear in people and children. Yes, sharks are top predators, but they don’t hunt people; and are important in keeping our marine environments in balance. Sharks are part of a diverse sub-class, known as Elasmobranchii, which also include skates and rays. Being part of the class chondrichthyes, this means that their structure is made up of cartilage rather than bones. A lighter cartilage skeleton and a tough outer skin makes for lightweight and efficient movement through the water column. There are over 400 species of sharks globally, much higher than breeds of dogs (~340), yet we only hear of the larger, more dangerous species. Here in the Caribbean, ...