While there are some people who want animals as trophies, there are others for whom the greatest reward is to care for them. The Tamar project was created in 1980 and aims to search for and subsequently save five species of sea turtles in Brazil. The project is internationally renown as one of the most successful projects in marine conservation, serving as a model for other countries. In addition to conservation activities, Tamar conducts research on marine ecosystems to better understand the life cycle of sea turtles: pregnant turtles visit the Brazilian coast and leave their eggs buried in the sand. The puppies are born and begin a journey to the sea marked by difficulties, such as the risk of being trampled, threat of predators and disorientation caused by artificial lighting which can guide the turtles in the opposite direction to the sea.
Tamar aims to protect the feeding areas, spawning, growth and the other aspects of the turtle lifecycle in nine Brazilian states. A team of biologists, oceanographers and local fishermen, identify mothers who come to the beaches to spawn, collecting skin samples for genetic studies. If a nest is in a dangerous place, Tamar will transfer the eggs to safer areas or in incubators.
In visitation centers, guests are presented information about the biology of turtles, the threats to their survival and the importance of protecting them.
In April this year, 20 million babies sea turtles were released into the sea in 35 years of work on the Brazilian coast. The Tamar project is an example for other countries.
Images via Tamar Project.
