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| A record number of community conservation rangers in Papua New Guinea are preparing the way for nesting marine turtles. |
Sixteen rangers – double the number in 2020 - are removing debris and clearing coastal erosion to provide a clear path for the turtles to lay their eggs as part of the work undertaken by the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative (CICI).
Their work marks the beginning of the annual nesting season which includes tagging and monitoring endangered Green and critically endangered Hawksbill marine turtles and giving turtle hatchlings the best chance of survival.
Recruitment and training of the rangers, who are all from neighbouring PNG islands, is part of the CICI’s partnership with P&O Cruises Pacific Partnership program to monitor marine turtle populations and to develop a long-term tagging and nesting program.
The Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative Project Manager Hayley Versace said the rangers were the “beating heart of the turtle program” and carry out the data collection and monitoring of turtles to ensure the health and protection of the endangered marine species.
“Even during the current pandemic and in times of crisis, it has been important to continue to support the turtles and conservation rangers and continue the fantastic achievements that our charity has been able to deliver since 2016 with the ongoing help of P&O Cruises’ guests,” Ms Versace said.
“This season we’re proud to welcome more rangers to our family, many of whom have previously grown up harvesting these animals.
“By learning more about the critical state of the species and the enormous value that they offer these communities through tourism and ecological biodiversity they have become the custodians of this environment and protectors of this species.
“It is a real story which demonstrates the positive impact that cruise tourism can play in protecting the special places that we visit.”
The Conflict Islands are one of the most remote inhabited archipelagos in the world, and since 2016 P&O has taken guests on memorable holidays to Panasesa Island, one of 21 coral cays in the atoll.
In 2018, valuable guest donations to P&O’s Pacific Partnership helped CICI launch its first Turtle Sanctuary and unique Turtle Interaction Tour which allowed guests to feed baby turtle hatchlings and learn about the important sustainability work happening on the ground in the Conflict Islands.
The CICI team was also able to upgrade its eight 2,500-litre tanks used to house hatchlings prior to their release into the Coral Sea, and install a bronze saltwater pump to improve water flow and the overall health and environment of the nursery facility.
Last year, the CICI also celebrated the record release of 13,672 endangered turtle species as part of the charity’s long-term tagging and nesting program.
P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said it was heartwarming to see the P&O Pacific Partnership continuing to give back to the communities and destinations the cruise line normally visits, even while ships have been absent from the region for many months.
“I’m sure that our guests will be wishing the rangers and all those involved with the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative, a very successful turtle nesting season. Like them, we look forward to seeing such amazing marine life firsthand when we can again cruise to the region,” Mr Myrmell said.
P&O Cruises Australia guests can continue to show their support for the efforts being carried out by the CICI by visiting www.cici.org.au/donate.
The Holiday and Travel Magazine
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