Wild Tobago

This newspaper started its Thursday (marine) environmental column in July 2016 in the edition of the paper printed and distributed free in Tobago. Dr Anjani Ganase, then a PhD candidate in Australia, wanted to spread awareness and inspire appreciation of their marine environment with residents of Tobago just as she was herself learning more about the ocean in her studies of marine biology and coral reefs around the world. All the weekly columns have been collected in the Wild Tobago blogspot and shared on-line; and are still available at  www.wildtobago.blogspot.com This feature, published January 22, 2026, in the on-line edition of the Newsday, is the 500th column. Over the time, she has shared the space, every Thursday, with other environmental thinkers, scientists and activists. She felt it was fitting that this 500th should go to the other end of the islands to showcase another unique ecosystem existing in Trinidad. One of the principles of this column is t...

Dr Anjani Ganase brings the latest discoveries in marine science, revealing the diverse and complex ocean world of past and present. So much more to be learned from the sea and its creatures! (Credit to  Ocean Image Bank for use of photos)   Filter systems from fish Scientists from the University of Bonn, Germany looked to the ocean for inspirational solutions in filtration. Annually, a single household would release about 500g of microplastic fibres from washing machines that enter the sewage or waste systems. For areas such as Trinidad and Tobago, where grey water is allowed to flow into drains and rivers, the 500g per household adds up to a significant amount of plastic waste entering the ocean. Globally, we can estimate the mass of microplastics from washing machines ending up in the ocean to be as big as a large shipping vessel. This often-overlooked source contributes to a major plastic ocean pollution problem. Trap filters of washing machine was...

Dr Anjani Ganase wants our government to be the exemplary marine conservators and managers. Poor marine governance limits national development. But progressive (island) states that take care of their extensive marine territory present limitless possibility for healthy happy populations.   I’ve had enough of the false narrative that conservation and environmental management restrict national development and progress. Over the last fifty years, Trinidad and Tobago has seen significant “development” in the form of endless construction projects, while environmental protection and management falls decades behind. In 1986, T&T acceded to the Cartagena Convention which includes local commitment to SPAW Protocol (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) and LBS Protocol (Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution) in which T&T is a contracting part. Yet, the local legislation for the most part continues to lag in effective marine management and alignment with the ...

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, urges everyone to visit the reefs of Tobago. Photos of Tobago reefs courtesy the Maritime Ocean Collection. The Reef is calling. Will You answer?   Visit ten coral reefs in 2026. This is the challenge to know your marine backyard and help drive its protection. Exploration can take different forms: swimming, snorkelling and diving. There’s also virtual exploration through Google StreetView, or via the Maritime Ocean Collection (maritimeoceancollection.com). All images are available in 360-degrees and can be uploaded to a VR headset for the immersive vibe.   See to save the Reef Our coral reefs need you to visit them now more than ever! Coral reefs are important to living on islands and should be regarded as precious assets. At this time, their health is critically compromised, and we must actively support their management and protection. Having eyes on them and knowing what to look for when they are not doing so...

Birding is for Everyone!  Faraaz Abdool presents twelve of the many reasons that we should all be bird-watching!   Oh, birds! We’ve all experienced them at some point. Whether in passing or deliberately, birds, their superhuman abilities, and their symbolic representations have captivated humans for millennia. Presently, the term “birder” is a person who enjoys birds, irrespective of degree or methodology. While some may argue to the contrary, a person who cracks a smile upon hearing the sweet song of the wren in the morning is as much a birder as the person who sloshes through kilometres of flooded forest, battling millions of mosquitoes to catch a glimpse of a roosting potoo that looks like nothing more than a broken branch.   Being a birder is both a right and a privilege. There is no specific dress code, nor a thousand-strong species list needed to qualify one’s status as a birder. Being a birder does not make anyone into an authority either...