Wild Tobago

Creatures other than man migrate along constant pathways to preserve their species. Dr Anjani Ganase considers some of these corridors of power and how they should be protected, especially in the region most important to our islands, the Caribbean Sea.    Animal migration is the seasonal movement from one habitat to another for the purpose of activities such as breeding and feeding. Migrations can be over small distances, from mountains to meadows; along latitudinal lines; and some circumnavigate the planet.   Many different animals migrate: insects, birds and bats fly, zooplankton moves on ocean currents; and great herds on foot. Here are some quirky facts about animals that travel great distances in air, sea or over land.    Leatherback turtles nest on beaches of Trinidad and Tobago and migrate long distances in the ocean following food. BY AIR The longest non-stop bird migration recorded was the bar-tailed godwit travelling across the...

Marine scientist and Technical Advisor to Save Our Sea turtles (SOS) Tobago, Dr Michelle Cazabon-Mannette, describes the fascinating life cycle of hawksbill turtles, the long journeys they make, the different habitats they inhabit, and the challenges they face. This article first appeared in the Tobago Newsday on Thursday 20h July 2017 A hawksbill hatchling makes its way to the sea. Photo courtesy Ryan P. Mannette We start the tale on a warm sandy beach in the tropics, where a female hawksbill has laid a clutch of about 150 round white eggs each the size of a golf ball. The eggs will incubate for about 60 days, before hatching in synchrony. Once the eggs hatch, it takes several days for the hatchlings, with an average shell length of just 4cm or 1.5 inches, to climb to the surface of the sand. They work together to wriggle their way through the sand, but once they hit the surface, it’s “every man for himself” as they make a mad dash for the sea. Natural instincts kick in and ...