Sarah-Jane enjoying MCSS

I have been interning with MCSS for 3 weeks now, and I have just one left. The amazing people (best bosses ever!) here have made the time fly by. The other interns are a lot of fun to work with and make the time both in the field and in the office entertaining. 

We do most of our work out in the field and every day is different. The project leaders keep us busy with the tasks needed to keep the different projects running.

I joined the Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation project at the Banyan Tree Resort and our main tasks so far have been beach patrols, bird surveys and terrapin trapping. The beach patrols are a really important part of the work we do here, especially during the Hawksbill sea turtles nesting season – September to March. We collect data on the nesting beaches and also ensure that tourists and locals don’t interfere with the turtles. The bird surveys and terrapin trapping projects provide data on their populations. The terrapins that are caught are weighed, measured, marked with some pretty nail varnish and added to an identification database. They are always released the same day. There is only one animal permanently at the centre – Chichi the black mud terrapin who was kept for too long as a pet and now cannot be rehabilitated. Chichi has his own converted hot tub home and is spoilt with lots of fish treats. 

We are also currently trying to raise funds to expand the rehabilitation project for giant tortoises that have been kept in captivity as pets.

The MCSS team is incredible and they are doing amazing work in the Seychelles for conservation. 
I hope that I get a chance to come back again one day!