The Cayman Turtle Farm is offering companies and individuals an opportunity to participate in an important part of its sea turtle conservation programme by sponsoring a turtle for release into the wild in the annual event during Pirate’s Week. Sponsors will be able to personally release their turtle on the beach to make its way into the sea and swim out to become part of the Caribbean’s population of green sea turtles. For corporate sponsors, turtle farm representative Lynne Byles said, this is a special way to recognise and reward one of their employees by giving them a unique experience.

“There are two sizes of turtles being released this year,” Ms. Byles said. “The hatchling turtles are from the 2011 nesting season just now coming to a close. The 1-year-old yearling turtles have been part of a headstarting programme in which they are trained to be able to forage for food in the wild.

“Their larger size makes them less susceptible to predators, and there is greater possibility they will remain within the Cayman area,” she said. “This year the turtles are being released into the North Sound, which has large expanses of turtle grass beds for the turtles to feed on.”

Goodie bag

Each sponsor will receive a sponsorship certificate and a goodie bag from Cayman Turtle Farm.

In addition, people visiting the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter between 4-11 November are eligible to fill in a raffle ticket at the farm’s Box Office. Five winners will be announced at the drawing at the Pirates Week opening festivities downtown at 8pm on Friday, 11 November. Winners will be contacted by phone.

The turtle release will take place at 4.30pm on Sunday, 13 November, on the North Sound, opposite the North Sound Golf Club.

Source: CaymanCompass.com