Living large in Rarotonga: Turtles breeding at Rakahanga School & swimming with Sharks

Here is an excerpt from an email I recieved on Monday of this week. It's from the principal of Rakahanga School, a very small island of some 70 people and 4.1 sq kms. The school has about 14 students. I was up there recently to facilitate a Northern Group Principals Workshop at the same time as the senior students Life Skills programme was on. One of the modules was run by a really fascinating guy, Dr Michael White, on the protection/life of turtles. He is currently working and living on Penrhyn Island doing a stock take and study into turtles. I got to learn a little about the turtles and their predicament, hence why this is interesting to me. Whether it is to you or not, I don't know, but it certainly provides another wonderful example of the very real learning opportunities afforded these isolated children. I've asked for Tuhe, the principal, to try and document the occasion with photos and keep me it touch.

Dr Michael White facilitating the Turtle workshop to senior
Northern Group students.

"...I was wondering if you could pass on a message to Dr White who ran the Turtle's Workshop in Manihiki for the Northern Group students.

A turtle has laid and buried eggs in the sand, underneath a 1 metre high pandana bush on Tuesday 27 September. A second turtle lay and buried eggs 25 metres from the first spot, also underneath a 1 metre high pandana bush today Monday 10 October.

It was our Rakahang policeman who actually found the buried eggs and showed me on how to place a 100L metal drum cylinder above the spot where the eggs were. He said to then cover the drum with coconut branches, this should prevent inquisitive students from accessing and damaging the eggs.

The policeman also said that because the eggs were on school property that the school has the authority to do what's best for the eggs. The students had been informed earlier this morning that a notice had been placed on the notice boards around the community that Turtles eggs were not to be disturbed.

I was wondering if Dr White had any other suggestions on how we could ensure that the eggs and the turtles that hatch from these two batches reach full maturity..."

This is the beach beside Rakahanga School, and where
the turtles will now hopefully be breeding.

Incidentally, on two occasions whilst up on Manihiki and Rakahanga I was privelged enough to see turtles. Once was whilst I was kayaking in Manihiki Lagoon. I was paddling towards what I thought was a lump of coral, but as I approached it swam away. I followed it for awhile before it had had enough of our little game and took off at a great rate of knots. The other occasion was whilst I was mackeral fishing on Rakahanga. This involves going beyond the reef and jumping into the sea with mask and snorkel on and using a very small rod and line with a hook with no barb on it. The guys we were with would put pulped coconut in their mouths and dive down to the bottom and let a little coconut out. This would attract the mackeral. The divers would then entice the mackeral to the top by letting out more coconut at ever decreasing depths. Once at 'catchable' depth more coconut would be released around our hooks and when we had one on line we would flick them onto the boat in one fluid motion. The divers also used their spear guns to catch big black trevalli, a real delicacy! Whilst fishing I noticed a gleaming movement on the sea bed and recognised it as a turtle. It was beautiful! I dove down as deep as I could, and as long as my breath would last and followed it. I was fearful of the divers taking to it with their spear guns! Thankfully they didn't. what a wonderful experience to catch a glimpse of such a majestic creature!

It wasn't long however, before another majestic creature caught our eye, illiciting a whole other flood of emotions! A shark appeared from the dark depths, cutting its way towards us at alarming speed. Tracey, a colleague from Rarotonga who travelled with me to Rakahanga, literally flew out of the water and into the boat at break-neck speed! For some reason, which wasn't bravery I can assure, I stayed in the water, transfixed by this beautiful, sleek, graceful, and fast animal. I was advised after the event that it "wouldn't bite" (?!). Once the cry of "Shark!" rang out the boys started banging on the side of the boat to scare it off, and indeed it did turn on its tail and dissappear as quickly as it had appeared.

What a magical place the ocean is, I am now quite determined to do a diving course during my time on Raro - it would be a shame to miss this opportunity.

The shark in this video was filmed by me while I was swimming in the Manihiki Lagoon. It was a little saand shark. The one I saw at Rakahanga was so much bigger!