kélonia     The Observatory of Marine Turtles kélonia

Awareness Programmes


With the intention of encouraging the general public to become participants in environmental protection and to develop responsible behaviour Kelonia runs regular turtle and turtle habitat protection programmes at which students and members of the public are welcome.

Worldwide Ocean Days 2008

This event tries to raise awareness within the general public for the future of our ‘blue planet’. It invites everyone to become active and work towards a better management for the World’s Oceans and their resources. Kélonia participates in this event upon request of the ‘Lions Club International, Saint-Denis Réunion, Perle Australe’ to contribute to the organization of the «Worldwide Ocean Days». Numerous programs and activities are offered at various communal venues which are located throughout the Island. In Saint Leu this event is hosted by Kélonia and offers the following:


2nd to 6th of June
GUIDED TOUR - WORKSHOPS
Programs for school children
Guided tour «The life of marine turtles and tortoises of the region» / Workshops concerning waste management and possible gestures for eco-citizens, and nesting beach rehabilitation.


7th and 8th of June
PLANTING
Planting indigenous plants on the beach of ‘Pointe des Châteaux’ (Sunday, 8th of June to 10 am; inscription the same day between 9 and 10 am at the reception of Kélonia)


2nd to 8th of June
TEMPORARY EXHIBITION
Foyer of Kélonia (free entry)
«When turtles invite whales»
(Kélonia and GLOBICE)


Saturday, June 7th
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Video projection room, Kélonia
(free entry, reservation required)

2:30 pm
Corals, nanopromoters of wealth
(Life Océane, Florence Trentin).
Coral reefs are living reliefs built by the plentiful and magnificent corals, which are present in transparent tropical waters. Source of diversity and wealth, they are an economic resource for Humanity and should be managed in a sustainable manner.

3:15 pm
Humpback whales, our winter guests
(GLOBICE)
Encounters with humpback whales are frequent in the waters around Reunion between June and October. Studies conducted by Globice help to increase our knowledge of these Cetaceans. Who are these creatures? Which threats do we pose to their lifes? How can we best protect them, particularly in the context of the marine reserve that has just been created in Reunion.

4 pm
Presentation of the Marine Natural Reserve»
(Parc Marin de la Réunion, Emmanuel Tessier).
The coral reefs of Reunion represent a biodiversity that is most remarkable among the French Overseas Departments. In 2007 the Marine Natural Reserve was created to preserve this largely threatened habitat. How does it work? What are the limits? What are the rules and how are they applied?

4:45 pm
The network of Marine Protected Areas of COI
(COI, Mr Ratsimbazafy, Project leader MPA Network).
The marine and coastal ecosystems of the islands of the western Indian Ocean (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, and Seychelles) represent a tremendous biological diversity of great productivity. They also provide shelter for many threatened species and contribute to the income of its coastal populations. The threats to these ecosystems are great. They are associated with human activities as well as with global natural developments. Confronted with such threats, the countries of this region created 26 Marine Protected Areas (MPA).

7th and 8th of June
Foyer of Kélonia (free entry) – Lions Club
Oral presentation: the essential role of the World’s Oceans and efforts for their restoration and conservation.


The passport "Citoyen de l'Océan"
Acquire this passport at the participating venues and become a "Citoyen de l' Océan" by participating in activities to protect and promote the marine environment.
Whale (Eric Lamblin)

© Eric Lamblin

2nd to 8th of June
Kélonia
Marine turtles of
the south-western Indian Ocean
An exceptional, natural and common heritage to preserve

This poster was edited to present the 5 species of marine turtles living on the south-western Indian Ocean. Local names of each species allow to identify them and facilitate information exchange between the different regional actors for their preservation. This cooperation is essential for the study and the conservation of these migratory reptiles that occupy different habitats spread accross several countries during their life cycle..

Download pdf format (954 k)
the poster
identification tortues marines de l'océan Indien

© illustration : Philippe Payet

The Quotidien
Young Reporter Contest


The Quotidien and the Academy of Reunion organises a contest open to the CMI, CM2, 6th grade and fifth grade classes of the island. Each class must create a thematic report dealing with one of Reunion’s animals. The content is free: photos, texts, drawings, illustrations, poems..., as is the support: paper or digital support. The finalists win a pedagogical visit to Kelonia, the turtle observatory in St. Leu.

Consult the rules and regulations at:
www.journaldesjeunes.com

Applications until
December 19, 2007

Word Ocean Day 2007

For this the first participation in the World Oceans Days, Kelonia proposes guided tours based on the rehabilitation of the nesting beaches of Reunion’s marine turtles. They will take place on the St Leu beach in collaboration with the Point de Chateaux Junior High School and the Town Hall.

rehabilitation of the nesting beaches
© kélonia

Friday June 7, 2007

Free guided visits
9:30 – 10:30 – 2:30 – 4:00

Only on reservation
Telephone: 0262 34 81 10

Marine Turtles Days 2007

In the framework of the Marine Turtle Days which will be taking place for the first time in July 2007, Kelonia is organising an amateur photo contest of pictures taken on the Kelonia site. Beginning on July 7, 2007 in the entry hall, the most beautiful pictures will be on display and open to public a vote. Prizes will be distributed to the winners.

 rules and regulations (in french, pdf)

Visitor's photo © Dalbera

Last date for sending in entries
June 20, 2007 mid-night

Photo Exhibition
July 7, 2007

Results
July 16 2007-05-20

The adventures of Kelonia

In order to sensitise the young public to the protection of marine turtles and the environment, 42 schools and junior high schools have been selected to participate in a contest entitled “The adventures of Kelonia.” The participating children must create the adventure of Kelonia, a young turtle born too weak on the St Leu beach to leave his nest but who was saved by the Kelonia team. Having gained strength at the centre, he was then released into his natural habitat.

 rules ans regulations (in french, pdf)
 results (in french, pdf)

Get together at the lagoon
© kélonia

Last day to deposit works
March 10, 2007

Designation of class winner
May 2007

Prizes
Discovery activities in Reunion

Kélonia, the observatory of marine turtles
Saint-Leu, La Réunion, France