Local Photographer-cum-naturalist Daniel Marcion is painting a not so nice picture of the future of one of the world’s oldest creatures – the sea turtle and its fate once it reaches this island’s shores.
Every year, leatherback turtles return to Saint Lucia’s shores to lay their eggs and hatch their young. Leatherback turtles are not only in danger of extinction but they are revered all over the globe as the largest sea turtle in the world, averaging four to six feet in length and 550 to 1550 pounds. Not only is the leatherback the largest turtle in the world, but it is also the largest reptile.
Another interesting fact about the leatherback that has garnered it a large following universally is that it is the only sea turtle with a soft shell. It has a leathery, oil-saturated carapace that is dark gray to black with white or pale spots and most importantly, it is in extreme danger of extinction with the primary causes of this being commercial fishing, egg harvesting, coastal development and environmental degradation
For some time now many Saint Lucians have enjoyed turtle meat as one of the staples of their diet, and have hunted the beautiful animals that travel for miles to lay their eggs on our many beaches around the island. But environmentalists, naturalists and animal lovers are calling for an immediate halt to the slaughter of the gentle animals.
Some years ago, the government put a ban on the slaughter of turtles and it is actually against the law in this country to be found in possession or trading in turtle shell, turtle meat or any part of the animal. In fact in some communities on the island, the ingestion of the turtle’s penis is considered an aphrodisiac and it is much sought after.
Photographer Marcion is very much behind the move to stop the killing of the animal and has employed the services of his company “Belle Portwe” to generate an awareness of the beauty of the animal and to teach Saint Lucians, beginning with the young ones, why turtles are to be seen as an important component to the survival of the island’s environment.
Marcion recently launched a photo contest for children as young as five years old to offer ideas on how to save the sea turtles.
He said: “The competition is geared to a young audience and we want them to share their photos with us on social media on how they see the creatures and what they can come up with to save the turtles. We would like to use their images to draw attention to the issue and to spread the love, beginning with the young ones.”
He explained that the competition will be organised by him and other local photographers who are now in the process of preparing fliers and other advertising material so the message of the campaign will reach as many Saint Lucians as possible.
The campaign/photography competition is slated to begin at the end of July, right after carnival. Marcion is alerting the public, especially those with children from ages five to 16, to be on the lookout for the launch of the campaign to help save the island’s leatherback turtles.