We've Moved!

Dear all our lovely followers. We've moved house, so to speak. You can now find us at:

http://thefigtreeforum.tumblr.com

Follow us, like or reblog the posts, ask questions, submit content! It's so much more interactive over at tumblr and we can't wait to see you there!

3D Conservation

Big things are happening in the conservation world. 

Huge issues that affect our environment - like the deforestation of tropical rainforests- happen every day without us even hearing about it. 

Now, several top guns in the media world like National Geographic and Virgo Productions are teaming up with conservationist legend Dr. Willie Smits to make a 3D movie about the plight of endangered Orangutans and their forests in Borneo. 

They will not be heading into the wilderness alone! Ten young and passionate people will be chosen to star in this deforestACTION initiative. 

Our very own biologist, Tara Beardmore, is applying for this job-of-a-lifetime and she needs our support! You can watch her video on youtube and follow the instructions to vote. But hurry as the competition closes soon! It only takes a few seconds to sign up and vote, and it is a website well worth exploring!

Tara has worked for Ecofieldtrips since 2010 after graduating with a bachelors of Journalism and Science. She has volunteered for wildlife organizations in her hometown, Brisbane, and has had behind the scenes experience in television programs - including nature show, Totally Wild! 

When she is not exploring rainforests and coral reefs with students on a trip, she is writing articles for Singapore magazine, Asian Geographic Junior. 

We wish her the best of luck with Project Borneo 3D!

300 years of Fossil Fuels in 300 seconds

Because you know how much we like Sea Turtles at EFT!

Running a turtle hatchery is no easy task. Ask any of us. Baby turtles have a habit of hatching at unreasonable hours or all at the same time or both! It's hectic because you have to release them ASAP, they use the energy from the egg yolk to dash towards the deep ocean, away from the reef and it's predators. You've also got to make sure that you release them from the top of the beach, not into the water, because the females need to remember the beach as they come back to beach they were born to give birth! 

There are strict IUCN (That's the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) protocols for running a hatchery, because Sea Turtles are endangered. Some people running hatcheries don't know of these protocols, or just ignore them. They might keep the hatchlings until they are bigger, because they think the hatchlings will have a better chance against predators. What really happens is that the hatchling has lost it's natural instinct to head out to sea, and hangs around the reef where it is STILL vulnerable to predators. Other hatcheries keep hatchlings back so tourists can hold them and play with them. Imagine if you were a new born baby, and people were passing you around, playing with you on the beach, and touching your umbilical cord. Imagine how disorientating and harmful that would be. It's not different for these turtles. Just because they have a shell doesn't mean they can't be damaged.


So do Sea Turtles a favour, support hatcheries that follow IUCN protocols, and spread the word. Remember, information is the key to conservation! 


P.S. The photo is supposed to be a gif. If the hatchling ain't moving, click on it.