It was a first: Sunday, January 26, a feast of the turtle was organized in La Roche Percée, in Bourail. This beach is a major ponte site for large head turtles in New Caledonia, sea turtles threatened by human activities. The party was an opportunity to recall the good behavior to adopt.
La Roche Percée beach in Bourail is a major reproduction site for large head turtles. “” “The first in New Caledonia, the second in the South Pacific, is not nothing”Underlines Dominique Lafage, president of the Bwaara Tortue Marine association. This Sunday, January 26, he participated in the first edition of the Turtle Festival organized by the Lezar’tisans association in Bourail. Objective: to enhance know-how and local heritage.
Marine turtles are part of it. From November to April, period of laying and hatching, volunteers from Bwaara Tortue Marine traditionally frame observation sessions. This year, there is none. But “We are on the beach every night and every morning to protect this magic space. We take stock, we chat with people, we educate”Explains Dominique Lafage.
Because it is possible to attend the laying and births of babies turtles alone, walking on the beach. But be aware that there are precautions to take and rules to respect, recall Lezar’Tisans on social networks.
-“We only walk at the bottom of the beach, so as not to risk crushing”Babies or eggs,“We stay more than 10m from the animal or nests, we do not touch the turtles, the eggs, the nests. No artificial light or flash. And dogs are strictly prohibited. Failure to comply with these rules exposes to heavy fines”Indicates the association, which specifies that it is possible to observe turtles with tourist operators from Bourail.
“Last year, we identified 380 eggs”, Announces Dominique Lafage. But the work of volunteers does not stop protecting the turtles during this period. “” “From May to October, we reforest, we revealize. 3,500 trees have been planted with turtle bay, it’s a magnificent forest now.”The same operation is carried out at the Percée Roche. Objective : “Create a barrier against light pollution of headlights, wild space, shadow areas”To promote the reproduction of these animals threatened with disappearance.
