WE ARE OPEN

There has been much sweat and many blisters over the last week or so while we have been making sure the outside of the centre was presentable. This included moving 10 tonnes of gravel in and around the terrapin and turtle treatment tanks. 

The first of the gravel arriving and the team starting to level with sand and spread out the gravel

In addition, all the paintings had been completed inside along with the posters and other displays.  

Educational displays in the main room 

Finally, yesterday, 31^st March, was the Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre’s official opening. 

We were joined by the Minister of Environment, hotel management, Vet services, University of Seychelles, a number of people from other conservation NGOs, local newspaper and TV reporters and representatives of many of the sponsors and supporters. Everything went smoothly and the rain held off until everyone had left.

Minister of Environment cutting the ribbon with the General Manager of Banyan Tree and Chairman of MCSS.

The day before the opening turned into a very hectic day. As not only did we have all the last minute preparation to do for the centre opening, we also had a school group come to learn about wetlands and sustainable living. Two classes (about 50 children) from the International School spent the morning walking through the wetland with us, getting a talk about the terrapins in the centre before finally being given a tour of the hotel vegetable garden. On the same day we had a journalist from National Geographic Traveller Magazine join us for several hours to visit the centre and participate in a beach patrol to get an idea of our work.

After 5 months of trapping for terrapins Tuesday morning saw us removing the traps for the last time as we completed the last of 6 cycles through our trapping sites (48 sites).

So the next few weeks will be continuing with the final turtle nest monitoring, putting together the data for the terrapins and hopefully welcoming people to the centre. Finally, a massive THANK YOU to all those who have supported the project (and us) in so many ways over the last few months. 

Unfortunately we are still slightly short of funds for the vital portable x-ray machine so any useful contacts and donations are still more than welcome. In the next post we will be telling you different ways you can support the centre.