RIU Hotels & Resorts is collaborating with the Non Governmental Organization SOS Tartarugas to protect marine turtles in Cape Verde. Of the five species that visit the coast, only caguamas or loggerhead turtles lay their eggs in the archipelago, where thousands go to do so each year. In Cape Verde marine turtles are threatened with extinction within eight years if nothing is done to prevent it.
Marine turtles face many dangers on Sal Island: Illegal hunters, loss of habitat because of oceanfront construction, the destruction of beaches because of eroding sand, artificial lights, contamination and debris on beaches (which makes it hard for turtles to lay their eggs and for hatchlings to reach the sea), stolen eggs, etc..
Project targets/results
- Use of dim outdoor lighting: RIU’s resort in Cape Verde uses very dim outdoor lighting to prevent turtle hatchlings from becoming disoriented. Bright light makes newly-born hatchlings head for land instead of the sea and then they die of dehydration and exhaustion.
- The Clubhotel lends the NGO a space on its beach on Sal Island, where a turtle hatchery has been mounted.
- Controlled expeditions at night (organised in small groups so as not to disturb the animals) to see the turtles reach the beach and watch them lay their eggs
- Sensitization: The hotel's children's entertainment programme includes activities and games devoted to marine turtles to help children get to know these animals and their presence on Cape Verde.
- Organising night patrols to protect hatchlings from hunters, day patrols to protect and move nests that may be in danger and campaigns to prevent vehicles from driving on the beaches.
- Local communities: SOS Tartarugas offers educational programmes for Cape Verde’s children and English classes for the local population, in addition to raising funds to help the children who need it most.
Joint efforts saved the lives of 5,500 marine turtle hatchlings on Clubhotel Riu Funana – Garopa’s beach in 2008.