Nesting Sea Turtle Monitoring-Tagging.

A minimum of two-person team (local guide - volunteer/research assistant) monitor leatherback/hawksbill nesting activity in Petit Carenage (March 15th - August 31st / 7:30pm - 5:30am).

Early morning patrols (4 am - 6 am) are scheduled for Anse Laroche and Sparrow Bay beaches (March – December)

Sea turtles are tagged after nesting, using flipper tags and standard morphometric data are recorded, following WIDECAST protocol procedures for monitoring & data collection.

Each nest location is recorded to monitor hatchlings’ birth & for overdue-nest excavations; anti-poaching strategies are applied disguising nests/tracks in such a way that poachers fail to detect the nest. Kido Foundation Field team operations are essential to prevent the destruction of Carriacou’s nesting sea turtle population, decimated in the past by egg poaching and killing of nesting turtles.

Nature Guide Training-

Nature Guide level 2 training will be offered to the 6 newly certified trainees, who received level 1 basic training courses in our first Rufford Small Grant project.

Level 2 will teach deep ecology and anecdotal narratives based on the interaction and interdependence of the variety of wild flora and fauna of the island.

Field training will consist in one-to-one practicum, with trainer (Dario Sandrini) in the role of eco-tourist. While hiking, exploring mangroves, wildlife & turtle watching, the trainee is asked to lead, giving adequate and articulate answers to questions posed by the tourist/trainer, in an interactive learning experience.

Youth Eco-Club Activities and Presentations-

Kido presentations on wildlife and small island ecosystem conservation (sea turtles, beaches, mangroves, reefs, sea grass) for Youth Eco-Club members

Discussions with Club members on how to showcase environmental issues in Carriacou and the beauty of her natural environment & wildlife, through photography, filming and video production.

Training Club members in the technique & art of nature photography/filming, in order to produce their own original photos & video material; develop an online Blog, containing the students’ artwork.

Nature photo & video-shooting throughout the island by Club members

Club members will take part in turtle protection, mangroves restoration, beach erosion/sand mining monitoring and cleanups. The best Photos and Videos of their work will be included as positive examples in their final presentations

Training in Video & Photo editing

Presentation of final production (photos with captions / videos / blog) in schools, public exhibitions, local media & YouTube