During my time in Tortuguero, ive made sure to focus on the good of what we do and what this jungle town stands for, rather than the unfortunate sacrifices and consequences that happen because of it. Ive sprinkled on this thruout the blog - that is, the weight we/ CCC, community and the immense income coming from turtle salivating tourists add on nature. On paper, this formula is wrapped in a nice pink, or rather green, ribbon. But at times, like during last nights patrol, we are reminded that this ribbon is not quite properly fastened... And these glitches hurt to acknowledge.
Last night the fabulous Borja and Delfina and myself were released into the once again moonless night - tourist shift. Using the spotters and tour lights as amo, since we cld barely see the end of our own limbs much less identify tracks, we used our charm to share their turtles, 3 of them. All of which were notibly disturbed and behaving unnatural in their nesting process. I dont blame them.
Turtle one: after performing stellarly in 5/7 of the way, heavily perturbed digs herself and gets stuck under vegeteation. We were able tomlocateher eventually, called on spotters to muscularily pull out tree roots tongive her room to moveout. Frightened and shooken up, she leaves escorted by ccc and spotters.
Turtle two: as weve unusually experienced this month, she left for sea mid oviposition stage, dragging a 40 or so full cloaca down track and releasing eggs tidbits at a time. Ccc to the rescue, tourists "give way", gloves on, egg chamber fastened, and eggs carefully placed to bed.
Turtle three: missed a step and laid her eggs without an eggchamber, or in an illfiiting chamber, and we witnessed her going thru the next covering steps, but without the chamber, she broke (some not all) her defenseless eggs with her amorousnback flipper covering motions (unknowingly). To try and help i feverishly shoved piles of fresh cool sand and anything on my path in the waynof the turtles to be, to make the shoves less harmful
None of these can be directly related to one cause or another, but one thing is certain.... Interfering w the nesting process isnt natural, and if a mamas reacts unnaturally, the hinting cause and effect is unavoiidable. As is the pain to witness.
turtle 1, 2 and 3 above made me question the invasive/interfereing nature of our work here.
Conservation vs preservation. It reminded me of the red head girl from tiny toons, who loved pets and animals soo much she suffocated them... And growing up i told myself i wldnt become that. Consevration behind a desk. Defending the causes intellectualy, theoreticalky, through the arts, and even the practice.... (i realize the contradiction, but life is squiggly gray lines anyways).
C and P overlap and in end are part of the same team of thought to protect the environment. C involves human empowerment, while p is reserved and distant. In the grander scheme i see C as more realisic as its inclusive and us humans are in everything.
Blablabla i can go on and on.
Defense- the good outweighs the bad.
i can pep my way out of this one singlehandedly, knowing that CCC has the best most rigorous and turtle considerate training in the "industry," adding also that the amount of "bad lemons" (aka bad nesting interferences) dont compare with the amount of turtles that have been measured, tagged, inspected, and even gawked at by tourists almost completey unperturbed (from what we can tell). Not to mention what science can do or the spcies.
Ive probaly worked over 100 turtles and can work them CONFIDENTALLY because i am proud of the research we are collecting and the way iperform. Also, i feel a dear connection with the mamas, and use my interaction also to try and communicate w them that the quick discfomfort will pass and bring good things to their kind. "welcome to conservation." I also try and clean up after our messes (inckuding all three incidents above).... I can practically replicate all sevel nesing stages now in case the mama ever needs the night off or babysitting haha.
Anyways, last night put this on my mind, and on my night off im still thinking of turtles. Figures. 5am survey in boca. A dormir.
In case its not obvious: i strongly invite Dialogue on the matter.... Appeases me. :)
Sorry that you're having second thoughts or doubts. It is unfortunate and sad that we live in a world that makes it so those turtles need such extraordinary attention and help but they are blessed to have you there. The slight discomfort and confusion that you put them through is all for a future that their species will be a part of and perhaps a future where they thrive, where conservation won't even be necessary. I think it's clear that you truly love and respect them and, though it's impossible to have a conversation with a turtle, I think they understand in a way.
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