Tuesday, October 7, 2008

So much for my retirement.....

Hi I'm Marcel Mathiot and I live on a beach in the south east of Mahe Island, Seychelles. When my wife Patricia and I were building our house we were delighted to see turtles coming up the beach to nest. We would watch over them as they laid their eggs and ensure their safe return to the sea. Sometimes we even paid those that wanted to kill the turtle, not to kill it, but instead to help us by allowing it to nest and return unharmed to the sea.

In 2005, we became aware of the 'Turtle Chick' who was patroling our quiet stretch of beach. She looked rather official as she made notes on her clipboard and inspected the beachcrest. Our curiosity lead us to ask her what on earth she was doing. Shortly after this, I, an unofficial Turtle Watcher got roped into being an official Turtle Conservation Officer. Now I get to patrol the beach and inspect the beach crest, and 'Oh Happy Days', I also get to fill out the endless Data Sheets.


Marcel Mathiot, Turtle Conservation Officer, photo Pat Mathiot

This is now my 4th Turtle season with MCSS and while I have enjoyed every minute of it, my interest in Turtles and their conservation goes back many years. It has been encouraging to see people change from being 'Turtle Predators' to 'Turtle Protectors'........but we still have a long way to go.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a superb Blog Marcel. Will follow this with much interest. love Christine (lil sis XX)

Purple Angel Hippy Chic said...

Super Blog Marcel, keep it up!!

malakoff said...

Actually, Marcel has to cross a narrow road to get to the beach from the house that he built. I am not in the least surprised that Marcel's middle name is Ti Torti because Marcel is my eldest brother who with patience and perseverance reared a tiny Tern Chick in a Navy Blue Beret in the top drawer of our wardrope at Malakoff street. He left for England in the early sixty's before I had a chance to ask Marcel what ever happened to that Tern Chick that he was so determined to rear and then to be released in the wild. Congratulation Bro....Love Francois.

Tit Oiseau said...

I take my hat off to you Marcel and all you wonderful heroes ( including Patsy with her skilled knowledge of computers ) working on the turtle monitoring programme ...... your endless dedication and passion involved in protecting such a unique, gentle, beautiful creature from harm whilst on her visit to our shores,is indeed so very touching and comforting. I look forward to accompany you on any of your patrols ( with your blessing off course ) when i come over to see you and learn more about your conservation work .....
FANTASTIC blog !!! I am sooooo proud of you big cousin,
Love and hugs,

Tit Oiseau Xxxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Malakof I guess by 'narrow road' you are referring to the sandy track that runs alonside the beach crest,little more than a footpath really. Love you Brother in Law.