|
|
Our efforts to save the lives of three endangered Green Sea Turtles were covered on the CBC News. We thank the CBC for their interest in the story and for permitting us to post this oniine.  
Leah, Heather, Charity and Alex work to "dress" a bare post at the station. The bromeliads were collected from fallen trees in the forest and attached to the post. Once established the plants will provide homes for a variety of animals including Strawbery Dart Frogs. |
|
||
|
||
|
 
|
|
The experience has officially ended and all would agree that it was a success. We established and tested protocols for snake research and plant phenology studies at Caño Palma. We were an essential part of beach patrols every morning and evening from July 8th until August 16th. We established a protocol and collected data on the distribution of caimans along Caño Palma. Most importantly we discovered what we were capable of
Reptiles are typically shy, inconspicuous animals that few people take notice of. As such, declining populations have gone unnoticed by the majority of people involved in conservation in Ontario. The last ten years has seen a significant shift in focus with reptiles being brought to the forefront. In 1991, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada listed only four reptile species native to Ontario. As of 2010, one species, the Timber Rattlesnake, is extirpated and 21 are listed as of special concern, protected, threatened or endangered. (COSEWIC, 2009; Endangered Species Act, 2007; Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2007; Oldham, 2003) 
Amphibians and reptiles represent a significant proportion of Ontario's protected species. On a global scale, their status and conservation is a high priority. Their sensitivity to disturbance, specialized ecological needs, and diverse ecological roles make them excellent candidates for monitoring ecosystem health. However, the monitoring programs currently in place may be improved greatly through slight changes in protocol. 
