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Sangalaki - The Turtle Island
It was on Sangalaki where it all began. Sangalaki was the first turtle island that was fully protected thanks to the TURTLE FOUNDATION. Initially - 2000 until 2001 - our staff was only allowed to protect and look after 20% of all nests. The remaining 80% were still looted professionally by the egg collectors.
Then came the breakthrough: Since 1 January, 2002 the turtles of Sangalaki were formally put under 100% protection. By providing a permanent presence on the island the TURTLE FOUNDATION ensures that the protection status is respected and enforced if necessary. Hence, Sangalaki is, after several decades of turtle egg looting, once again a true turtle´s paradise. Nowadays about 10 -20 green turtles come ashore on Sangalaki each night to lay their eggs.
Why Sangalaki?
Sangalaki is an extremely important and valuable nesting ground for the Green Turtle. Unlike other places, Sangalaki is visited by nesting turtles each day all year round and not just during a particular time of the year. Research has shown that only 20-30 years ago several hundred turtles were laying eggs on Sangalaki each night. Turtles usually return to exactly the same beach where they themselves were born in order to lay their own eggs. Had the looting continued at that pace, it would not be long before the last turtle came ashore on Sangalaki.
Due to this serious threat, the TURTLE FOUNDATION decided to immediately investigate how to avert this imminent disaster. Thanks to the small size of the island, management and control were relatively easy. For this reason, the TURTLE FOUNDATION strongly believed that it could be successful in the short term, preserving the turtle population at least in this area for the future. And in fact after three years only that dream came true. |
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