Current interns, Alliea Hanna and Marquis Rolle and researchers are surveying major sea turtle habitats around Eleuthera, paying special attention to small loggerhead turtles. (BNT Photos)

ELEUTHERA, Bahamas – Despite extensive conservation efforts globally, sea turtles still remain on the endangered list. Through its Sea-Turtle Tagging Internship the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is contributing to the conservation of sea turtles. Each year the BNT supports two or three Sea-Turtle Tagging Expeditions which are designed to evaluate movement and distribution patterns of sea turtles in The Bahamas.

The expeditions have become amazing learning experiences for both interns and turtle researchers. Interns, Alliea Hanna, Marquis Rolle and researchers recently surveyed major sea turtle habitats around Eleuthera, paying special attention to small loggerhead turtles.

The internship inspires the students to become better environmental stewards while improving their public speaking skills, learning real life research skills and increasing their knowledge of The Bahamas’ endangered turtles.

During the expeditions the interns and researchers live aboard the ‘Foxy Lady’, which is a sleep-aboard vessel and where they are required to help with all of the daily chores, in addition to the research and prep work for presentations. They are also required to deliver presentations in various communities on major islands about the BNT and the work it’s doing to protect these precious turtles.

“The BNT is pleased to provide young people an internship opportunity that allows them to work alongside veteran researchers and engage in real scientific research,” said Portia Sweeting, BNT Director of Education. “We see this incredible experience as an investment into our future conservation leaders and thank Mr. Stephen Connett and Barbara Crouchley, leader researchers, for the expertise they bring to the program.”

This is the fourth year of this programme. For those interested in learning more about the BNT internship program students should visit www.bnt.bs or contact the headquarters of The Bahamas National Trust at (242) 393-1317 or bnt@bnt.bs. To follow the BNT’s sea turtle research and education initiative go to www.bahamasseaturtleresearch.org or like the BNT on Facebook.

The Bahamas National Trust was created by an Act of Parliament in 1959 to build and manage the national park system of the Bahamas. Possibly the only non-governmental organization in the world charged with such a responsibility the TRUST, as it is commonly known works daily to conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through stewardship and education for present and future generations. There are currently 27 National Parks managed by the TRUST with more than 1 million acres of marine and terrestrial areas protected.

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