Bequia
As our Zodiacs set off for the dock jutting out from the center of the small Caribbean town of Bequia the hot midday sun bore down on the ten bodies on board. A kaleidoscope of colorful hats and UV protecting shirts were our protection against the rays.
We were on our way to Brother King’s turtle sanctuary, a place Lindblad has supported with visitors for multiple seasons now. Brother King is a local from Bequia devoting his life’s work to raising the endangered and heavily hunted species in his own backyard. His holding tanks protect the turtles from the time they are born until they reach about 5 years of age, then they are released back into the wild. While he is unable to say what the survival rate is once released into the wild, he figures that about 30% of the turtles birthed in his tanks will make it far enough to be returned to the sea.
The turtles are enchanting to watch at such a close proximity as they fight and play in their small pools. They are separated by age, keeping the smallest free from the dangers of the large juveniles. This was a real photo opportunity and many guests had the chance to capture some postcard-worthy shots.
On the way back to the small town of Bequia, our safari pickup trucks stopped for a great overlook of the town and the Sea Cloud II anchored in the bay. For our fitness minded folks, Wellness Specialist, Rocio, offered a 40-minute hike back to town from the turtle sanctuary. By the time we all met at the dock to Zodiac back to the ship, we were ready for the second part of the afternoon….a trip to the beach, where we had fresh green coconut juice and fruit kebabs waiting for us, care of the chef, David Setzermann.
As our Zodiacs set off for the dock jutting out from the center of the small Caribbean town of Bequia the hot midday sun bore down on the ten bodies on board. A kaleidoscope of colorful hats and UV protecting shirts were our protection against the rays.
We were on our way to Brother King’s turtle sanctuary, a place Lindblad has supported with visitors for multiple seasons now. Brother King is a local from Bequia devoting his life’s work to raising the endangered and heavily hunted species in his own backyard. His holding tanks protect the turtles from the time they are born until they reach about 5 years of age, then they are released back into the wild. While he is unable to say what the survival rate is once released into the wild, he figures that about 30% of the turtles birthed in his tanks will make it far enough to be returned to the sea.
The turtles are enchanting to watch at such a close proximity as they fight and play in their small pools. They are separated by age, keeping the smallest free from the dangers of the large juveniles. This was a real photo opportunity and many guests had the chance to capture some postcard-worthy shots.
On the way back to the small town of Bequia, our safari pickup trucks stopped for a great overlook of the town and the Sea Cloud II anchored in the bay. For our fitness minded folks, Wellness Specialist, Rocio, offered a 40-minute hike back to town from the turtle sanctuary. By the time we all met at the dock to Zodiac back to the ship, we were ready for the second part of the afternoon….a trip to the beach, where we had fresh green coconut juice and fruit kebabs waiting for us, care of the chef, David Setzermann.
