Comparison of hatching success of Caretta caretta in 2000 and 2001 nesting season in the island of Boavista (Cape Verde islands, Western Africa)

Abstract

Since 1998, a general study on the biology and conservation of the nesting population of Caretta caretta is being carried in the southeastern coast of Boavista island (Cape Verde, Fig.1). During the 2000 season, up to 100 nests from the southeastern beaches of Ervatão and Ponta Cosme were incubated artificially to safeguard the survival of the eggs, because they were laid in non proper places as flooding areas or sand with roots of vegetation (García et al. 2000). However, in the 2001 season, no nest was incubated artificially. The nests from the closer beach of Calheta, have not been altered in any season, because previous experiences reported a high hatching success (Cejudo et al. 2000) and was used for comparisons.</p>