Vanuatu Post releases ‘Turtles of Vanuatu’ stamp

The Vanuatu Post has joined the international campaign to preserve turtles, particularly in Vanuatu where there are Green and Hawksbill turtles.
The company showed its support by releasing ‘Turtles of Vanuatu’ stamp issue which features these two commonly found turtles in Vanuatu, to highlight the beauty and importance of these reptiles both now and for the future generation.

Currently the world is witnessing a dramatic decrease in the numbers of the sea turtles, which are considered to be facing extinction worldwide. All turtles are considered endangered by international trade, according to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Vanuatu is also noticing the decreasing of the turtles’ population therefore as part of its campaign; it encourages more of local Vanuatu programmes taking the challenge. Specific examples of turtles monitoring village volunteers are on Moso, Nguna, and Pele islands on Efate’s north coast. The local communities are working hard to preserve these beautiful creatures by tagging, monitoring, and even satellite-tracking the turtles as ways to manage the conservation of sea turtles.

Factors contributing to threaten the extinction of the sea turtles include commercial fishing, pollution, set nets, and destruction of beach nesting areas.
Currently there are more focus on legislations; bans on taking turtles or eggs during the nesting season and the making of selling turtles or any by-products illegal in the Pacific island countries.