READY TO GO: Turtle lovers get set for releasing the hatchlings into the sea. Photos by Neil McBride
INSET: Neil McBride
By Anand Holla
Behold the turtle … he makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. This wise remark by an American scientist about the gentle reptiles puts the baby turtles’ nature-programmed first dash to the sea in perspective.
To unite fellow enthusiasts in enjoying the spectacle of turtle hatching at Fuwairit beach on the east coast of Qatar, Neil McBride started the Qatar Turtlewatch Facebook group, three-and-a-half months ago. The word of mouth has been so strong that it now has 1,103 members, most of who have been routinely dropping by the beach to experience the turtle hatching season that came to an end on Thursday. Community chats up with McBride:
Why did you decide to start this group?
Ever since arriving in Qatar, I had wanted to witness the egg-laying and the hatching. I have always been keen on nature and wildlife, and the chance to see this amazing natural event was too good to miss. This year, I decided to do something that would benefit everyone who nurtures the same ambition.
How was the response initially? How has it been of late?
The response was good and within three weeks of starting, we had around 300 members. People were posting advice on how to get to the beach, where to park and what to look out for. Quite a few people managed to reach there and witness the actual laying of the eggs, thanks to the information provided. After hatching took off, we had nearly 800 membership applications and some excellent photos and videos posted by our members.
What other activities does the group help its members connect over?
A little while back, we organised a beach clean-up drive that was suggested and co-ordinated by a rather nice chap Scott Antonides. We posted on the group for volunteers to help us clean up Fuwairit beach during the nesting season. We had an excellent response and around 30 eager people jumped in. There was even a coach party of school children turn up which was fantastic. We had to start very early in the morning because of the heat. Yet people willingly gave their time to help. I can’t thank them enough. In the end, we had filled up around 20 large bags of rubbish and hopefully made a difference for not just the egg-laying turtles, but for other beach users as well.
While there are no further activities scheduled as of now, I am always open to ideas. I have also started another Facebook group called Qatar Marinewatch. I am hoping to expand this group to maybe organising trips and outings so as to view some of the other magnificent creatures that inhabit the waters around Qatar, and possibly include a social side to the group.
What’s your understanding of the current state of turtles in Qatar and the Middle East?
The turtles in Qatar face very similar problems to those around the globe – the main threat being pollution. When you ask people to define pollution, most think of exhaust gases, factories and chemicals. However, very few think of litter – and in particular plastic bags. Plastic bags and rubbish dumped in the sea or left on the beaches are a huge threat to turtles as they can ingest them thinking they are a food source.
Is enough being done for turtle conservation?
Of course. More could be done but it’s a difficult balancing act. Some people asked why the beach could not be closed for the nesting and hatching season. That is not really practical, sadly, as the combined length of the nesting and hatching season is around three months. You can’t shut a public beach for that long, can you? Changing people’s attitudes and approach through a sustained programme of education would be more practical and effective. But that has to be done over the long run. If we educate people to carry their rubbish back home with them and care for their environment, then we would have taken a massive step towards helping not just the turtles, but our planet as a whole.
How has your experience of watching turtle hatching been?
It has been simply amazing. From wondering how the turtles navigate their way back to the same nesting sites, to how the hatchlings know to head straight for the sea as soon as they hatch, I have always found this phenomenon fascinating. To watch it happen is spectacular, and no matter how many times I witness the event, I will always be in awe! Mother Nature is truly amazing. I have also been truly bowled over by the effect it seems to have had on some of the younger members of the group. Many thanks to Jill Atkinson, Salman al-Mohannadi and the whole team up at Fuwairit beach. They had plastic bowls for the children who could use them to hold a hatchling in their very hands and release them onto the beach shortly after. That experience meant a lot to so many, it seems. Those children will remember that for a long time.
What do you want to achieve with these groups – Turtlewatch and Marinewatch?
The idea behind Qatar Marinewatch is to use it as a way of getting together and visiting some of the other amazing marine wildlife around the Qatar peninsula, such as whale sharks and dolphins. It would be great if someone reading this interview can help us achieve this.
What’s your takeaway from putting this group together?
There is so much to see around these waters and it’s heartening to see so many like-minded people. Changing people’s attitudes and outlook takes a generation. I have seen it in the UK, where it took a long time to persuade people of the benefits of recycling, or wearing a seatbelt in a car. It will take the same length of time to change the way people look after their environment. If by my setting up this group, some people have had their eyes opened to the need to look after our environment, and also witnessed a truly amazing event, then that makes me genuinely happy.
