Sea turtle
In a move designed to conserve endangered turtles in Zanzibar, Mnarani aquarium has introduced labelling turtles before releasing them back into the sea.
Some 25 turtles were labelled and released back into the sea last week after about two years of protected caring, Mr Muombwa Haji Mussa, Communication Coordinator, said after the annual event of releasing turtles into the sea.
According to Muombwa, the aquarium was established in 1995 in Nungwi village, about 70 kilometres north of Zanzibar Stone Town. It has so far successfully cared for and released back into the sea a total of 170 turtles. “Turtles have many enemies throughout its life cycle,” he said.
“This is quite a challenging activity, but we have been achieving our goals,” says Mr Muombwa that the system of tagging is intended to further protect the turtles wherever it may be. For the past 17 years Mnarani has been a tourist attraction site, where both local and foreign tourist visit to see the caring of turtles. “There is no entrance fee for residents, while foreign tourists pay two to five US dollars per head.”
“It is a small money,” Mr Muombwa said, “but we collect about more than 10m/- in a year, which we use for running the aquarium, and raise awareness of the threats to sea turtle survival and their importance to our marine eco-systems.” He said that turtle hatches hundreds of off-springs but only few survive due to many predators including birds, fish and people. “Therefore we ask people mainly fishermen to hand over young turtles to us for caring until it is grown up to safer age,” Mr Muomba said.
Mr Muomba said that his local NGO is appealing for assistance from other organisations in rescuing sea turtles, “protecting sea turtles, their eggs and hatchlings. We believe sea turtle education is a key element in the species survival.” Eight people were reported to have died last month, after eating poisonous turtle meat. Seven out of eight deceased people were from one family.
By ISSA YUSSUF, Tanzania Daily News
