We work at the center each weekday from 8 until we are done (usually about 11 - and that includes extended standing around time, chatting to each other). We have breakfast at our hostel at 7 am. It´s always the same: egg (scrambled, omlette or boiled), a bun (each of us get our own plate with a tablespoon of margarine and jam), freshly squesed juice and a cup of hot milk. Well, I get hot milk, some of the others get hot water. That´s so you can make your own coffee (Nescafe).
At the center there are currently people from three different volunteer groups. There seems to be no control on how many people arrive, as it seems that each day we get more people! There are now four teachers there. Three of us teach high school Biology and the other one is an IT teacher.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday is feeding day. The tortoises are so cute. They literally come running when it´s feeding time. Someone collects the food somewhere and we put it in the cages. As us girls feed the little ones, we get to put in leaves - lots of big spiders... Even found a frog today. Big deal as frogs are introduced into the island. We called the boss to come and take it away and dispose of it. You also clean out the lagoona that holds their water.
Tuesday and Thursday is cleaning day. Clean out the left over food from the previous day. Sweep the paths. That´s about it.
We had a look at the incubation chambers today. Pretty primitive. Just an old wooden cupboard with a fan at the top (to control temperatue). The eggs are kept in plastic containers with sand in them. 6 eggs per container. Container wrapped in gladwrap.
There are of course adult turtles here too. It´s their young that are reared here at the center. The babies get released when they are about 5-6 years old. By this time their shells are hard enough to withstand the introduced predators - cats, dogs, donkies, rats, etc.
At the center there are currently people from three different volunteer groups. There seems to be no control on how many people arrive, as it seems that each day we get more people! There are now four teachers there. Three of us teach high school Biology and the other one is an IT teacher.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday is feeding day. The tortoises are so cute. They literally come running when it´s feeding time. Someone collects the food somewhere and we put it in the cages. As us girls feed the little ones, we get to put in leaves - lots of big spiders... Even found a frog today. Big deal as frogs are introduced into the island. We called the boss to come and take it away and dispose of it. You also clean out the lagoona that holds their water.
Tuesday and Thursday is cleaning day. Clean out the left over food from the previous day. Sweep the paths. That´s about it.
We had a look at the incubation chambers today. Pretty primitive. Just an old wooden cupboard with a fan at the top (to control temperatue). The eggs are kept in plastic containers with sand in them. 6 eggs per container. Container wrapped in gladwrap.
There are of course adult turtles here too. It´s their young that are reared here at the center. The babies get released when they are about 5-6 years old. By this time their shells are hard enough to withstand the introduced predators - cats, dogs, donkies, rats, etc.
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