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...

  Faraaz Abdool designs itineraries to show off food, culture and natural vistas in his tours for birders. Homebound for a couple years, many people have fallen in love with their backyard birds and by extension the magic of birding. Now, with travel restrictions easing in most countries, people are eager to visit new places, see new sights, and experience new birds. Pre-pandemic birding tourism was already a significant sector of the burgeoning ecotourism market, and it is gradually regaining momentum as more and more people take flight. Birding tours take eager persons from all walks of life to incredible and remote places as varied as the birds themselves. As the destinations vary, the tours branch out to cater for the various cadres of birders – some who keep lists with magnitudes of thousands, some who are seeking that elusive winning photograph, others merely interested in the experience of being in nature. Most people who travel for birds fall in any combination of t...

How do we make visitors welcome on our islands and in our seas? By preserving habitats and food sources. But most importantly, by appreciating the visitors. Dr Anjani Ganase considers the meaning of Trinidad and Tobago’s signing the Convention to conserve migratory species such as sharks, birds, turtles and the Monarch Butterfly.  On December 1, 2018, Trinidad and Tobago became the 127th country to sign on to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, as part of the United Nations Environment Programmme. According the Convention, countries must recognize that migratory wildlife and the environments that support them are irreplaceable, have extant value for future generations and it is our responsibility to wholly care for these organisms. Signatories of the Convention are mandated to actively protect migratory wildlife and the habitats they utilise when they occur within the country’s jurisdiction. This includes their food sources and the quality an...

Marine scientist, Dr Michelle Cazabon-Mannette, argues that turtles alive are far more valuable than for food. This loggerhead turtle was recently stranded on the east coast of Trinidad with a possible boat strike injury. "Sammy" is currently undergoing treatment (Ryan P. Mannette)  In Tobago we have a taste for turtle meat, and many of us think it is a luxury that is our right to enjoy. But it is a luxury that right now we have to learn to forego. Why? 1)    Sea turtles are valuable in many ways, and we want future generations to be able to enjoy and benefit from these values. Sea turtle products such as meat, eggs and shells have been consumed by man for thousands of years. Prehistoric peoples in the Caribbean exploited sea turtles substantially, for at least 4,000 years. There is no denying these animals are a valuable source of protein. We say sea turtles have consumptive value because their products can be consumed. Sea turtles can also be co...