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Is community-based conservation a feasible option for sea turtles in Sal, Cape Verde Islands?
(2013)
Cape Verde is one of the most important nesting sites for loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta, with the island of Sal having the second biggest population in the country. Loggerheads in Sal face a number of threats, from poaching to coastal development. The non-profit organisation SOS Tartarugas was founded in 2008 to ensure the conservation of the species. Community-based conservation (CBC) is one of the most popular strategies for carrying out wildlife conservation in Africa and even though the organisation employs international staff and volunteers, involving Cape Verdeans in the project is one of its main objectives. The implementation of CBC in Sal has however been very difficult. This study employed two different methods, a Delphi survey and semi-structured interviews, to describe the desirability and feasibility of a CBC approach in Sal and assess what challenges its implementation faces. Results strongly confirm the desirability of CBC in Sal, but also point out a number of challenges, from lack of education to the need for stable jobs for the Cape Verdeans involved in conservation.
On 12 July 2013, an adult female loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta with an almost complete longitudinal carapace fracture was observed nesting and returning to sea at João Barrosa beach, Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands. Due to the evident fracture instability and the likelihood of subsequent system infection development, an intervention was planned to prevent further health decline and eventual death. Beach surveillance was increased to raise recapture possibilities, based on the most likely nesting days for this individual. After 53 days, the animal hauled out again and was allowed to lay eggs before taken away for wound cleaning, stabilization, medication administration and surgery. An orthopaedic surgical intervention for shell repair was performed under field injectable general anaesthesia. The fracture was stabilised in six places by means of four marine resistant stainless steel plates and two orthopaedic wires screwed to the carapace. Finally, all implanted material was covered and protected with epoxy resin to maintain a smooth carapace surface and prevent potential entanglement.