thank you what can this bucket and conservation
what can this bucket and conservation
what can this bucket and conservation have in common
have in common
have in common Trinidad is an island in the Caribbean
Trinidad is an island in the Caribbean
Trinidad is an island in the Caribbean and it’s a hotbed for a sea turtle
and it’s a hotbed for a sea turtle
and it’s a hotbed for a sea turtle called a leatherback it’s a hotbed for
called a leatherback it’s a hotbed for
called a leatherback it’s a hotbed for their nesting leatherback sea turtles if
their nesting leatherback sea turtles if
their nesting leatherback sea turtles if you don’t know are some of the largest
you don’t know are some of the largest
you don’t know are some of the largest reptiles in the world they can grow to
reptiles in the world they can grow to
reptiles in the world they can grow to be a ton their shells can be more than
be a ton their shells can be more than
be a ton their shells can be more than two-and-a-half meters in length they can
two-and-a-half meters in length they can
two-and-a-half meters in length they can dive down 1,200 meters or more you know
dive down 1,200 meters or more you know
dive down 1,200 meters or more you know what their diet is jellyfish so the
what their diet is jellyfish so the
what their diet is jellyfish so the female turtles come on the beach on the
female turtles come on the beach on the
female turtles come on the beach on the northern coast of Trinidad and they lay
northern coast of Trinidad and they lay
northern coast of Trinidad and they lay eighty to a hundred eggs sixty seventy
eighty to a hundred eggs sixty seventy
eighty to a hundred eggs sixty seventy five days later these eggs hatch and the
five days later these eggs hatch and the
five days later these eggs hatch and the babies go down to the beach into the sea
babies go down to the beach into the sea
babies go down to the beach into the sea to face a life of danger not a lot of
to face a life of danger not a lot of
to face a life of danger not a lot of these baby sea turtles are meant to
these baby sea turtles are meant to
these baby sea turtles are meant to survive way less than 1% besides these
survive way less than 1% besides these
survive way less than 1% besides these natural predators in some areas there
natural predators in some areas there
natural predators in some areas there are what we call unnatural predators
are what we call unnatural predators
are what we call unnatural predators like some of these sea turtle nests
like some of these sea turtle nests
like some of these sea turtle nests hatch near villages where there’s
hatch near villages where there’s
hatch near villages where there’s domestic animals pigs and dogs with
domestic animals pigs and dogs with
domestic animals pigs and dogs with their good sense of sight good sense of
their good sense of sight good sense of
their good sense of sight good sense of smell
smell
smell well find these nests hatching and
well find these nests hatching and
well find these nests hatching and they’ll gobble as many as they can next
they’ll gobble as many as they can next
they’ll gobble as many as they can next in line are chickens
in line are chickens
in line are chickens cats they’ll take a big number
cats they’ll take a big number
cats they’ll take a big number themselves if the turtles are lucky
themselves if the turtles are lucky
themselves if the turtles are lucky enough to get down to the beach the
enough to get down to the beach the
enough to get down to the beach the black vultures pick them off before they
black vultures pick them off before they
black vultures pick them off before they reach the sea enter my heroes
reach the sea enter my heroes
reach the sea enter my heroes some children about 10 to 13 14 years
some children about 10 to 13 14 years
some children about 10 to 13 14 years old and what they do before they go to
old and what they do before they go to
old and what they do before they go to school is they take these buckets and
school is they take these buckets and
school is they take these buckets and they walk along the beach and they
they walk along the beach and they
they walk along the beach and they collect hatchling turtles they put these
collect hatchling turtles they put these
collect hatchling turtles they put these buckets in a secure area lock them up
buckets in a secure area lock them up
buckets in a secure area lock them up and go off to school when they return
and go off to school when they return
and go off to school when they return from school hopefully they do their
from school hopefully they do their
from school hopefully they do their homework they’ll open up this area and
homework they’ll open up this area and
homework they’ll open up this area and allow visitors to come in and view the
allow visitors to come in and view the
allow visitors to come in and view the turtles take photos of them all for a
turtles take photos of them all for a
turtles take photos of them all for a nominal fee at dusk
nominal fee at dusk
nominal fee at dusk they’ll take these buckets down to as
they’ll take these buckets down to as
they’ll take these buckets down to as close to where the nests hatched is
close to where the nests hatched is
close to where the nests hatched is possible and the let the turtles go you
possible and the let the turtles go you
possible and the let the turtles go you have to actually let the turtles go from
have to actually let the turtles go from
have to actually let the turtles go from the nest they were hatched
the nest they were hatched
the nest they were hatched because biologists say and they
because biologists say and they
because biologists say and they biologists never agree but this time
biologists never agree but this time
biologists never agree but this time they do they agree that these turtles
they do they agree that these turtles
they do they agree that these turtles need to go to the sea from the beach
need to go to the sea from the beach
need to go to the sea from the beach they were hatched from in such a fashion
they were hatched from in such a fashion
they were hatched from in such a fashion when they grow up and mature the females
when they grow up and mature the females
when they grow up and mature the females will will return to the same Beach it’s
will will return to the same Beach it’s
will will return to the same Beach it’s amazing so why is this important to me
amazing so why is this important to me
amazing so why is this important to me I’m a conservation biologist been doing
I’m a conservation biologist been doing
I’m a conservation biologist been doing this work for over 40 years I work with
this work for over 40 years I work with
this work for over 40 years I work with animals that people don’t like I work
animals that people don’t like I work
animals that people don’t like I work with lizards dragons venomous snakes
with lizards dragons venomous snakes
with lizards dragons venomous snakes crocodiles as you’ll see later for me
crocodiles as you’ll see later for me
crocodiles as you’ll see later for me after all this time what I found out is
after all this time what I found out is
after all this time what I found out is simplicity like just like this bucket is
simplicity like just like this bucket is
simplicity like just like this bucket is sometimes the best conservation tool you
sometimes the best conservation tool you
sometimes the best conservation tool you don’t have to look any further than the
don’t have to look any further than the
don’t have to look any further than the basic needs of people I also work in a
basic needs of people I also work in a
basic needs of people I also work in a Democratic Republic of Congo actually I
Democratic Republic of Congo actually I
Democratic Republic of Congo actually I work so far out in the forest that if I
work so far out in the forest that if I
work so far out in the forest that if I went any further I’d be coming out
went any further I’d be coming out
went any further I’d be coming out I’ve been there for eight years we
I’ve been there for eight years we
I’ve been there for eight years we employ about forty Congolese people and
employ about forty Congolese people and
employ about forty Congolese people and our job is to monitor forest our job is
our job is to monitor forest our job is
our job is to monitor forest our job is to actually save equatorial African
to actually save equatorial African
to actually save equatorial African rainforests our Congolese workers do
rainforests our Congolese workers do
rainforests our Congolese workers do forest surveys measure plots
forest surveys measure plots
forest surveys measure plots biodiversity surveys measure wildlife
biodiversity surveys measure wildlife
biodiversity surveys measure wildlife whatever’s left agroforestry programs we
whatever’s left agroforestry programs we
whatever’s left agroforestry programs we teach the locals better agricultural
teach the locals better agricultural
teach the locals better agricultural techniques in congo like many parts of
techniques in congo like many parts of
techniques in congo like many parts of africa people really like to eat
africa people really like to eat
africa people really like to eat seasonally caterpillars they go out
seasonally caterpillars they go out
seasonally caterpillars they go out collecting these caterpillars and
collecting these caterpillars and
collecting these caterpillars and they’re from a moth called the Saturn
they’re from a moth called the Saturn
they’re from a moth called the Saturn Mars and what she does the female she
Mars and what she does the female she
Mars and what she does the female she lays her eggs on the bottom of Leafs
lays her eggs on the bottom of Leafs
lays her eggs on the bottom of Leafs trees bushes and many times they only
trees bushes and many times they only
trees bushes and many times they only choose one type of plant it’s called a
choose one type of plant it’s called a
choose one type of plant it’s called a host plant
host plant
host plant so these tiny caterpillars hatched from
so these tiny caterpillars hatched from
so these tiny caterpillars hatched from the egg and they begin feeding on this
the egg and they begin feeding on this
the egg and they begin feeding on this host plant before long they’re about 10
host plant before long they’re about 10
host plant before long they’re about 10 centimeters in length ready to harvest
centimeters in length ready to harvest
centimeters in length ready to harvest people go out into the forest sometimes
people go out into the forest sometimes
people go out into the forest sometimes many kilometres away to collect these
many kilometres away to collect these
many kilometres away to collect these caterpillars often they send children
caterpillars often they send children
caterpillars often they send children now the kids are a lot more nimble than
now the kids are a lot more nimble than
now the kids are a lot more nimble than URI they can get up and down those trees
URI they can get up and down those trees
URI they can get up and down those trees so one time we were out in the Congo I
so one time we were out in the Congo I
so one time we were out in the Congo I was out there with the boss Don talking
was out there with the boss Don talking
was out there with the boss Don talking with our guys and he says do you guys
with our guys and he says do you guys
with our guys and he says do you guys know what the host tree are for these
know what the host tree are for these
know what the host tree are for these caterpillars they really like them they
caterpillars they really like them they
caterpillars they really like them they say of course we do so so the boss said
say of course we do so so the boss said
say of course we do so so the boss said let’s take a couple days let’s go and
let’s take a couple days let’s go and
let’s take a couple days let’s go and collect seeds and saplings from these
collect seeds and saplings from these
collect seeds and saplings from these trees let’s bring them to our nursery
trees let’s bring them to our nursery
trees let’s bring them to our nursery let’s grow them up a little bit and
let’s grow them up a little bit and
let’s grow them up a little bit and plant them around simple enough right we
plant them around simple enough right we
plant them around simple enough right we planted them when they’re about no 3/4
planted them when they’re about no 3/4
planted them when they’re about no 3/4 of a meter high
of a meter high
of a meter high planted them around a compound around
planted them around a compound around
planted them around a compound around people’s homes fallow farmland okay fast
people’s homes fallow farmland okay fast
people’s homes fallow farmland okay fast forward four five years later you’re in
forward four five years later you’re in
forward four five years later you’re in Equatorial Africa
Equatorial Africa
Equatorial Africa these trees are three meters or more in
these trees are three meters or more in
these trees are three meters or more in in height couple September’s ago I got a
in height couple September’s ago I got a
in height couple September’s ago I got a call from one of my managers Philemon
call from one of my managers Philemon
call from one of my managers Philemon he says Joe guess what we’ve got
he says Joe guess what we’ve got
he says Joe guess what we’ve got caterpillars plenty of them what
caterpillars plenty of them what
caterpillars plenty of them what happened was for the few years these
happened was for the few years these
happened was for the few years these trees were going growing nobody paid
trees were going growing nobody paid
trees were going growing nobody paid attention to him when the trees began to
attention to him when the trees began to
attention to him when the trees began to grow up and mature the moss found them
grow up and mature the moss found them
grow up and mature the moss found them they laid their eggs and our guys found
they laid their eggs and our guys found
they laid their eggs and our guys found caterpillars boy were they happy word
caterpillars boy were they happy word
caterpillars boy were they happy word got around and I don’t know if you folks
got around and I don’t know if you folks
got around and I don’t know if you folks have ever heard of the coconut Telegraph
have ever heard of the coconut Telegraph
have ever heard of the coconut Telegraph no internet no electricity but believe
no internet no electricity but believe
no internet no electricity but believe me these villages from far and wide
me these villages from far and wide
me these villages from far and wide heard about this they came to ask our
heard about this they came to ask our
heard about this they came to ask our guys it’s it’s simple you collect the
guys it’s it’s simple you collect the
guys it’s it’s simple you collect the trees in fact some of them put the seeds
trees in fact some of them put the seeds
trees in fact some of them put the seeds in our nursery and they planted them and
in our nursery and they planted them and
in our nursery and they planted them and here you have it simple they made a plan
here you have it simple they made a plan
here you have it simple they made a plan and the plan worked now three things a
and the plan worked now three things a
and the plan worked now three things a win-win-win situation people have a food
win-win-win situation people have a food
win-win-win situation people have a food source close to home they’re growing
source close to home they’re growing
source close to home they’re growing native trees now they’re actually
native trees now they’re actually
native trees now they’re actually reforesting the forest and there’s
reforesting the forest and there’s
reforesting the forest and there’s plenty of caterpillars win/win/win so I
plenty of caterpillars win/win/win so I
plenty of caterpillars win/win/win so I know you’re thinking how do you eat them
they can be broiled they can be baked
they can be broiled they can be baked you could cook them anyway cook any meat
you could cook them anyway cook any meat
you could cook them anyway cook any meat or fish personally I like them fried
Trinidad and Congo were planned
Trinidad and Congo were planned activities sometimes simple conservation
activities sometimes simple conservation
activities sometimes simple conservation is unintentional another project I work
is unintentional another project I work
is unintentional another project I work on is in Florida and in the 1960s 70s
on is in Florida and in the 1960s 70s
on is in Florida and in the 1960s 70s early 70s the population in Florida was
early 70s the population in Florida was
early 70s the population in Florida was booming they needed more power more
booming they needed more power more
booming they needed more power more electricity so a company a local company
electricity so a company a local company
electricity so a company a local company Florida Power and Light built two
Florida Power and Light built two
Florida Power and Light built two nuclear reactors right on Biscayne Bay
nuclear reactors right on Biscayne Bay
nuclear reactors right on Biscayne Bay to supply power and in order to cool
to supply power and in order to cool
to supply power and in order to cool these reactors engineers got together
these reactors engineers got together
these reactors engineers got together and they devised this cooling canal
and they devised this cooling canal
and they devised this cooling canal system it’s about eight kilometers long
system it’s about eight kilometers long
system it’s about eight kilometers long three and a half kilometers wide it’s 32
three and a half kilometers wide it’s 32
three and a half kilometers wide it’s 32 canals and berms end to end in fact if
canals and berms end to end in fact if
canals and berms end to end in fact if you put them in one line they’d be over
you put them in one line they’d be over
you put them in one line they’d be over 260 kilometers long
260 kilometers long
260 kilometers long at the same time lived in the area a
at the same time lived in the area a
at the same time lived in the area a very rare animal the American crocodile
very rare animal the American crocodile
very rare animal the American crocodile now the American crocodile is found in
now the American crocodile is found in
now the American crocodile is found in the Caribbean and parts of the Caribbean
the Caribbean and parts of the Caribbean
the Caribbean and parts of the Caribbean Mexico both coasts Central and South
Mexico both coasts Central and South
Mexico both coasts Central and South America the northernmost extent of their
America the northernmost extent of their
America the northernmost extent of their range is South Florida why at this time
range is South Florida why at this time
range is South Florida why at this time they were they were extremely rare there
they were they were extremely rare there
they were they were extremely rare there was no more than a hundred and fifty to
was no more than a hundred and fifty to
was no more than a hundred and fifty to three hundred non hatchlings in South
three hundred non hatchlings in South
three hundred non hatchlings in South Florida the reasons why they’re so rare
Florida the reasons why they’re so rare
Florida the reasons why they’re so rare is they’re very particular about their
is they’re very particular about their
is they’re very particular about their habitats in their natural history there
habitats in their natural history there
habitats in their natural history there s Chuen animals they live along the
s Chuen animals they live along the
s Chuen animals they live along the coast in mangroves
coast in mangroves
coast in mangroves saltwater yet
saltwater yet
saltwater yet when they hatched from the egg they have
when they hatched from the egg they have
when they hatched from the egg they have no salt excreting glands their
no salt excreting glands their
no salt excreting glands their particular so particular but in a short
particular so particular but in a short
particular so particular but in a short time this cooling canal system came out
time this cooling canal system came out
time this cooling canal system came out there with all the ingredients for their
there with all the ingredients for their
there with all the ingredients for their natural history there’s plenty of food
natural history there’s plenty of food
natural history there’s plenty of food available there’s high berms anywhere
available there’s high berms anywhere
available there’s high berms anywhere from one to three meters high substrate
from one to three meters high substrate
from one to three meters high substrate for nesting which also limits their
for nesting which also limits their
for nesting which also limits their range and when they nest these nest
range and when they nest these nest
range and when they nest these nest because it’s so high they drain on those
because it’s so high they drain on those
because it’s so high they drain on those berms besides the nice substrate our
berms besides the nice substrate our
berms besides the nice substrate our freshwater ponds which was really
freshwater ponds which was really
freshwater ponds which was really lacking probably one of the main reasons
lacking probably one of the main reasons
lacking probably one of the main reasons they were so rare so now the Crocs can
they were so rare so now the Crocs can
they were so rare so now the Crocs can hatch from their egg they can go in the
hatch from their egg they can go in the
hatch from their egg they can go in the freshwater and naturally have their
freshwater and naturally have their
freshwater and naturally have their glands develop and then go out in a
glands develop and then go out in a
glands develop and then go out in a while that was in about 1989 I began
while that was in about 1989 I began
while that was in about 1989 I began working at this place and over that time
working at this place and over that time
working at this place and over that time I have uncovered or observed over 400
I have uncovered or observed over 400
I have uncovered or observed over 400 nests successful nests
nests successful nests
nests successful nests I have personally marked and released
I have personally marked and released
I have personally marked and released 6,000 hatchlings in 2007 American
6,000 hatchlings in 2007 American
6,000 hatchlings in 2007 American crocodiles were down listed by the US
crocodiles were down listed by the US
crocodiles were down listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service from an
Fish and Wildlife Service from an
Fish and Wildlife Service from an endangered to a threatened species
endangered to a threatened species
endangered to a threatened species partly because of this this proves one
partly because of this this proves one
partly because of this this proves one thing to me that industry can coexist
thing to me that industry can coexist
thing to me that industry can coexist with the environment you see as I said
with the environment you see as I said
with the environment you see as I said simple works but for instance everything
simple works but for instance everything
simple works but for instance everything I need most everything I need for
I need most everything I need for
I need most everything I need for conservation fits in this little pack I
conservation fits in this little pack I
conservation fits in this little pack I even in Congo I carry a flashlight to
even in Congo I carry a flashlight to
even in Congo I carry a flashlight to look for those snakes at night in the
look for those snakes at night in the
look for those snakes at night in the forest and to shine the crocodiles eyes
forest and to shine the crocodiles eyes
forest and to shine the crocodiles eyes and out in the forest there’s no
and out in the forest there’s no
and out in the forest there’s no patterns either you better carry some
patterns either you better carry some
patterns either you better carry some batteries another great tool of mine
batteries another great tool of mine
batteries another great tool of mine happens to be a compass you don’t need
happens to be a compass you don’t need
happens to be a compass you don’t need any batteries for this and not only can
any batteries for this and not only can
any batteries for this and not only can you get into the forest with this you
you get into the forest with this you
you get into the forest with this you can also get out last but not least you
can also get out last but not least you
can also get out last but not least you may have to make your observations in a
may have to make your observations in a
may have to make your observations in a field notebook with my mind I can’t
field notebook with my mind I can’t
field notebook with my mind I can’t remember a lot of things to use this so
what I’m trying to tell you here today
what I’m trying to tell you here today is that simple can go a long way for
is that simple can go a long way for
is that simple can go a long way for being successful and successful for
being successful and successful for
being successful and successful for everyone involved in conservation what
everyone involved in conservation what
everyone involved in conservation what would be your tool thank you
would be your tool thank you
would be your tool thank you [Applause]
”
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