Location: Union
Surprise! We shifted the job wheel, so I am skipper again! I hope you all are enjoying my blogs. 🙂 Today was an extra early wake-up so we could head to shore and meet up with some wardens of the forest here in Chatham Bay. We had a steep hike up to the ridge of the island, where we were met by the whole team of wardens/park rangers. It was fascinating hearing from them and learning about the history and importance of the forest. The west side of Union Island is comprised of one of the healthiest dry forests in the Caribbean. This forest is crucial for the whole island for collecting rainwater that everyone relies on to sustain them. The wardens work to help protect the forest from other investors hoping to buy the land so that the island can remain sustainable. They have many partnerships, including National Geographic, Disney Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fauna and Flora, and many more, who are hoping to help preserve this amazing ecosystem. The wardens also help defend the land and the creatures from poachers who want to smuggle them into the pet trade or steal them for other illicit businesses. Since their involvement, however, poaching levels have decreased dramatically. One of the primary species they protect, which we went looking for as well, was the beautiful and tiny Union Island Gecko. Being endemic, this adorable little gecko is only found on Union Island. It is listed under the highest CITES protection and is critically endangered. Thankfully, with the help of the warden’s protection, their numbers have increased in recent years. Before seeing the gecko, we hiked up the ridge to the highest point in the Grenadines, Mount Taboi. Along the way, we saw many tortoises, snakes, and a pink rhino iguana and learned about the native flora. The viewpoint at the top gave us an incredible overlook of the whole island, as well as the rest of the Grenadines, Saint Vincent, and back south toward Carriacou and Grenada. It was awesome getting another perspective on where we came from and where we are going next. We enjoyed some prickly pear-the fruit of cactus- at the top and overall enjoyed the lookout. Next, we met up with the other wardens who had found us the Union Island Gecko. It was smaller than expected, and we all deeply enjoyed viewing such a rare species while getting some further history on the island and an inspiring speech at the end. It really made us think about our larger purpose and place in this world. Once we made our way back down the island and back to the boat, we enjoyed some lunch before having a marine biology lecture. It ended just in time for Heather to come back from provisioning, so we all pitched in to put our food for the next week away. We then enjoyed some much-needed downtime before our first oceanography quiz. Our showers felt a little sweeter after such an eventful (and sweaty) day, and a pasta salad dinner was a delight. It was a well-rounded day, and I feel very lucky to have seen such incredible endemic species and overall incredible nature and views.
P.S.
Gamper, I think about you every time I hear or even think of the word ‘endemic’. I was so excited to write this blog on a day when we were privileged enough to see an endemic species. To the rest of my family and friends, I love and miss you lots!