The year 2023 ended for our teams with 845 turtle tracks observed on the 13 motu that make up the atoll. 50 turtles𝟱 were identified and 412 nests were recorded.

With more than 2,170 hatchlings already out of their nests according to the counts of empty shells made by our teams, this season, which will last until around April, looks promising…

In total, 26 night time survey sessions were carried out in addition to daily daytime surveys to identify tracks, with a record of 6 turtles observed in a single night on Tiaraunu motu.

Several turtles had already ben observed in the past on Tetiaroa: Ahoroa in particular had been recorded during the 2011-2012 nesting season then during the 2017-2018 season before returning this year to deposit its eggs again on the beaches of the atoll. Finally, a depigmented resident turtle which had been observed in 2014 and then in April and November this year was photographed by drone. An image of great beauty.

A big thank you to all our supporters, our generous partners, our talented and motivated collaborators, our tireless volunteers who have allowed this study to continue since 2007 and to provide crucial information on the life cycle of this globally endangered species that we are fortunate to be able to observe in Polynesian waters.

Partners : Direction de l’Environnement Polynésie Française, The Brando, Hinerava, Polynésie Voyages, Tetiaroa Society, Vilebrequin, Van Oord, Esri France, Air Tahiti Nui, IFBD, Pacific Beachcomber, Aremiti Tahiti – Moorea, Hello Scoot, Avis Tahiti, Andrew Sabin Foundation, Kristin Hettermann & Sven Lindblad, Jean-François Clervoy & Frank Lehot, Carl Swanes.

It was a real pleasure to talk with them and help them discover the association’s actions and the importance of protecting our marine riches.

Very soon, it will be the turn of the Te mana o te moana teams to immerse themselves in EDT VA’A and share the youngsters’ passion for their sport.

We are honored to have had EDT ENGIE as a partner for many years

Mauruuru roa of your support.

Partners, collaborators, volunteers, donors or followers, your support has allowed us for almost to 20 years to protect the Polynesian environment, and more specifically sea turtles !

Mauruuru roa from the bottom of our heart.

As part of this project, educational interventions were done in 7 8th grade classes in Tahiti and 4 in Moorea.

The program included:

Information on coastal ecosystems, their roles, threats and how to protect them.

Fun educational activities (reconstruction of a shoreline, presentation of sand samples, a plant species memorization game)

The distribution of a digital booklet on the coastal vegetationA total of 190 students from 11 middle schools were involved!

*Project funded by the French Polynesia Coral Reef Initiative (IFRECOR)

*Please find attached the digital educational booklet “Coastal vegetation of Tahiti and her islands” created as part of the TE FA’A NO TE PARURU project.

Lasting 1 hour, this guided tour will be similar to the one offered so far, with a contribution asked to visitors.

This contribution will allow the association to maintain this visit, essential to raise awareness on the protection of the Polynesian marine world, and in particular sea turtles.

Come and discover our association, its actions as well as the residents of the Sea turtles rehabilitation center.

DAY AND TIME SCHEDULE

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:30 p.m.Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.

Visit open to all, adults and kids.

CONTRIBUTION

From 12 years old: 1,500 fr per person

Under 12 years old: 500 fr per person

Reservation REQUIRED by email at reservation@temanaotemoana.org, on the association’s messenger or in person at the Te mana o te moana kiosk located in the Tahiti InterContinental hotel activity center.

See you soon !

Over the last few weeks, we had the pleasure of welcoming 3rd grade student for an observation internship at the association.

A moment of exchange and transmission of knowledge for the delight of the association’s teams.

During their observation internship, students have the opportunity to discover the different professions of the team members, to observe the operation of the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center and to participate in the educational programs provided by the educational teams.

For middle school students, this internship is an excellent way to immerse themselves in the world of work, gain autonomy and confirm their career choices.

We would like to thank all our 3rd year interns for their investment and their kind attention.

We wish them a lot of success!

As part of the project co-financed by the Direction of the Environment of French Polynesia (DIREN), we are delighted to be able to offer a 2-hour educational programs to 14 classes of Faa’a and Papeete.

On the program :

Discovery of the different species of sea turtles and their characteristics

Raising awareness on marine pollution and its impact on biodiversity

Discovery of f-green habits to easily implement in your daily life

Visit to the Sea turtle rehabilitation center

We would like to thank the schools that we have already welcomed

A special thanks to the Hitivainui school whose students did us the honor of offering us shell necklaces and singing.

Thursday December 7th, we transferred a large female green turtle from Moorea to the Tahiti Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center with the support of the French Polynesia Environment Directorate.

Weighing 92kg and over 1m long, this turtle was rescued in 2007 by Captain Taina Moorea and released in front of the former Club Med in Tiahura. Well-known to Moorea residents and easily identified by her hump due to previous collisions, Ohure pio had been living peacefully in this area for over 15 years.

For the past 2 weeks, she has had a new wound on the back of her carapace with missing marginal scales, identified by our teams as being due to a collision. Increased buoyancy problems caused her to surface vertically, back to front.

Weakened, her wounds were being pecked at by fish and sharks had been spotted around Ohure pio.

Thanks to the invaluable help of the Captain Taina Moorea teams, she was rescued and brought ashore. It was a delicate operation, given the turtle’s weight and injuries. She was then taken to the Aremiti Tahiti – Moorea with the help of the boat’s crews to be transferred to Tahiti, under the supervision of our vet.

We would like to thank Captain Taina for their dedication to protecting the turtles in this area, as well as the Aremiti Tahiti – Moorea teams for their invaluable help. We would also like to thank the French Polynesia Environment Directorate for their trust and Olivier Betremieux of the Fariipiti veterinary clinic for his advice.

Welcome to Ohure Pio !

Partners : Pacific Beachcomber, InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, Vilebrequin, Air Tahiti Nui, Jean-François Clervoy, Frank Lehot, Hinerava, The Brando, Tetiaroa Society, Polynesie Voyages, IFBD, Visa 1er Secours, Aremiti Transport, Hello Scoot, Manahei créations

On December 1st, a class from Aratika school, on a school trip to Tahiti, took part in a LAGON RECRE educational program.

The class got to learn about reef ecosystems, their inhabitants and their importance.

The kids particularly enjoyed meeting the turtles at the Rehabilitation center, as well as discovering the educational activities.

Mauururu roa to the Aratika kids !!

Since 2020, EDT Engie has been supporting our foundation. This year, we implemented a great awareness project for children and young people from Faa’a immersed within the association for the protection of sea turtles thanks to this partnership.

Mauruuru roa!