WWF - Conservation and environmental publications: Gamba Complex

Update after 5 years of Marine Turtle monitoring in Gamba, Gabon (2002-2007)

2008-01-22

Considering the environmental concerns on global level, and following other countries in the Congo
Basin, Gabon has been endowed with a network of 13 National Parks, representing the countries
ecological and biological wealth. One of the characteristics of the country's recognized biological
diversity is the presence of nesting sites for several marine turtle species of the cheloniidae family and
one of the dérmochelyidae family.

The presence of four species of marine turtles in Gabon, of which some estimates go as far as 30% of
the worlds nesting leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) population (see 2006 report) and their
endangered status, make them flagship ship species for conservation and scientific research.

The beaches near Gamba town situated in the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas (GCPA) are part of
these privileged nesting sites for marine turtles. The 200 km of coastline of the Complex receives an
average of 2000 turtles every year (see 2006 report). Since 2002, the NGO Ibonga-ACPE in
collaboration with WWF and his partners (PROTOMAC) contributes every nesting season to the
monitoring and daily research on 5.75 km of beach near Gamba.

For the 2006-2007 nesting season, the activities of Ibonga's monitoring team started at the 5th of
November 2006 till the 31st of April 2007 (including one week preparing the camp), thanks to financial
support from the RAPAC (Réseau des Aires Protégées d'Afrique Centrale) and the UICN (the World
Conservation Union).

This report will firstly present the geographical context, the different conservation activities, before
showing the final results and analysing these results, to end with suggestions for future activities and
the conclusion.

Technical Report:
Update after 5 years of Marine Turtle monitoring in Gamba, Gabon (2002-2007)
By: Gil-Avery Mounguéngui Mounguéngui
Technical Coordinator IBONGA-ACPE
Translated by Bas Verhage (Conservation Advisor WWF, Gabon)

Marine Turtle Newsletter

2007-04-10

Special focus issue on Marine Turtles in Atlantic Africa. Published by seaturtle.org, edited by Michael S. Coyne.

Editorials:
Proceeding to the Future
M.S. Coyne

The Oldest Place Where There is Always Something New
J.G. Frazier

Articles:
An Update on Marine Turtles in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa
J.G. Peñate et al.

An Update on Sea Turtle Conservation Activities in the Republic of Congo.
G. Bal et al.

Conflicts & Social Dilemmas Associated with Capture of Marine Turtles by Artisanal Fishers in Benin
J.S. Dossa et al.

Marine Turtle Mortality in Southern Gabon and Northern Congo
R. Parnell et al.

Artificial Lights as a Significant Cause of Morbidity of Leatherbacks in Pongara Natl. Park, Gabon
S.L. Deem et al.

Observations of Marine Turtles in Relation to Seismic Airgun Sound off Angola
C.R. Weir

Fibropapillomatosis confirmed in Chelonia mydas in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa
A. Formia et al.

Presence of Sea Turtles in Traditional Pharmacopoeia and Beliefs of West Africa
J. Fretey et al.

Discovery of a Gabonese Leatherback in South Africa
J. Fretey et al.

Second TAMAR-Tagged Hawksbill Recaptured in Corisco Bay, West Africa
A. Grossman et al.

Four Years of Marine Turtle Monitoring (2002-2006)

2006-07-05

By Bas Verhage and Eustache Beodo Moundjim and Suzanne Rachel Linvingstone

Largest leatherback populations in the world
Gabon holds one of the largest leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) populations in the world, but still little is known about their population dynamics, foraging behaviour, nest ecology and threats. In Total, we find four species of marine turtles nesting on its beaches. The leatherback and the olive ridley are regular nesters and the green turtle and the hawksbill turtle are rare.

Protection, monitoring, scientific research, building capacity & awareness raising
Since 2002 WWF and Ibonga have set up a Marine Turtle Monitoring Programme in the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas, in the south-west of Gabon. The main objective of our Marine Turtle Programme is to conserve marine turtles by assisting the Government of Gabon in developing capacity to effectively manage the parks and reserves in the Gamba Complex. Our activities include protection, monitoring, scientific research, building capacity and awareness raising. The main focus of this programme is on leatherbacks because of its predominant presence in the area.

75 km of beach monitored on a weekly basis
The monitoring Programme is executed on a daily, weekly and quarterly basis. The daily monitored zone is 5,75 km of beach near Gamba. 75 km of beach to the north and south of the daily monitored zone, is monitored on a weekly basis by quad. During the 2005/2006 season, the whole Gabonese coastline was monitored by plane every month between November and March in cooperation with all the partners working on marine turtles in Gabon. Furthermore, the migration of leatherbacks is monitored in the Atlantic Ocean using satellite transmitters, initiated by WWF-LAC.

Decrease in nesting numbers in 1st 3 years, increase in 4th
Over the four years of intensive monitoring (2002-2006) the results show a steady decrease in the leatherback nesting numbers over the first three years, followed by an increase in the fourth season. The population nesting in the Gamba Complex the fourth year is estimated at 2,500 individuals.

Human activities in the Complex mostly concern egg poaching, as well as pollution of the beach with trash, light and oil. A permanent presence of MEF and WWF are of great importance to monitor these threats. Thanks to their presence since 1985, human activities are not at a level that endangers the survival of marine turtles today. However a wave of dead turtles was found on the beaches in the south of Gabon between September and October 2005. This might have been caused by one of the many, and still very little monitored, marine threats (fisheries, pollution).

Threats: erosion, inundation, destructive roots & predation.
The greatest threat to the eggs and the hatchlings on the beach are natural threats; erosion, inundation, destructive roots and predation. The common predators are ghost crabs, monitor lizards and the civet cat. The hatchery showed its effectiveness to protect the eggs from these threats and served at the same time as tool to raise awareness amongst school children and tourists.

The nest temperatures were higher in the nests in the hatchery than on the beach which led to shorter incubation periods. Though the temperature was not so high as to cause an impediment for development of the eggs, as the hatching success in the nests in-situ on the beach was not significantly different from that in the nests in the hatchery.

Three transmitters deployed during the 2005-2006 season
The leatherbacks covered at least 100 km during intra-seasonal migrations and inter-seasonal migrations covered the whole Atlantic basin. The latter was proved by the capture of a leatherback near the coast of Argentina in 2005 tagged in Gamba in 2003 (Billes et al. 2006). The exact migration routes will be better known thanks to three transmitters deployed during the 2005-2006 season.

Protection team and tourists
The combined efforts of WWF, Ibonga and PSVAP, with financial support from Protomac have resulted in the recruitment and training of 20 people as marine turtle researchers, and a successful tourist package, attracting at least 90 tourists during the fourth season. The collaboration with local and international partners have created a solid foundation for a long term monitoring programme. Only long term monitoring of nesting beaches and migration patterns will lead to a coherent approach for conservation of these highly migratory

Central Africa (CARPO) Bulletin

2005-07-25

In this Issue:

* WWF US team visit Central Africa Region
* WWF Cameroon teams with Telephone Company for "A Tree for Life" Programme
* Tagged elephant "crowns" WWF staff as Conservation Hero
* Certification Update
* Large numbers of rare species parrots found in southern Nki

CARPO Bulletin

2005-04-18

Contents of this issue:

* Cameroon validates national strategy on forestry and wildlife control
* Campo Ma'an and Gamba projects on website
* DRC: 1st national workshop on Luki Biosphere Reserve
* Cameroon: Atlas to monitor illegal logging
* Gabon: National Parks on French and German TV Screens * Educational Visit to WWF-CARPO
* DRC: NGOs call government attention to bad law on granting forest concessions
* Gamba Fishermen association
* Marine Turtle Tagging: Gamba
* Chiefs invoke spirits to protect Kupe forests as integral reserve.