Seychelles: Climate Change, Not Poaching, the Bigger Threat to Hawksbill Turtles
Poaching is no longer the main threat to hawksbill turtles in Seychelles but rather the effects of climate change, a local conservationist said now that the nesting season has ended.
The conservation officer from the Seychelles' environment ministry, Ashley Pothin, said that officials' increased presence on the beaches mostly frequented by turtles has helped to deter poachers and that there are now less poaching incidents compared to five years ago.
"The most worrying thing now is sea level and beach erosion. We had to relocate at least five nests threatened by high tides and waves. With the climate change, erosion of the coast is becoming a big concern," said Pothin.
Hawksbill turtles, named because of their narrow pointed beaks, are found mainly throughout the world's tropical oceans, predominantly coral reefs. They are listed as critically endangered on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Sidne Ward