Ia Ora na

Overcoming obstacles is what turtle hatchlings are all about. This little one just dug itself out of the sandy nest that its mother had dug deep to protect her eggs from predators.  Now, as the sun rises, the hatchling makes its way to the lagoon in full sight of its predators.  Each obstacle reduces its chance of survival, but there is no giving up - climb!

Much like the little turtle, Tetiaroa Society is committed to overcoming the obstacles which lie between today and the day when the atoll will be rat free, and one invasive predator of turtle hatchlings will be removed from the equation.

If you would like to give a hatchling a boost, you can help us fund the Habitat Restoration Program.

This video presents efforts to understand and protect the green sea turtles that are nesting on Tetiaroa. It is a collaborative program led by a local non-profit called Te Mana o te Moana with the Government of French Polynesia, The Brando Resort, and Tetiaroa Society as partners. The goal is to understand their nesting behavior in order to manage Tetiaroa as a sanctuary for these amazing animals.

On Tetiaroa, these brilliant white seabirds are easily seen in the famous Pisonia grandis forest on the motu Reiono, alongside black noddies that also nest on these large native trees. The chicks will turn their backs to you when you pass by so that they cannot see you anymore, while the parents fly overhead to keep a watchful eye.

Motu Reiono is the first motu to have benefited from the removal of invasive rats, which posed a huge threat to nesting seabirds, turtles, crabs, and other native species. Now free from predation, white terns can reproduce in the primary forest without losing their eggs and young to invasive rats.
 

Was this fairy i'tata'e' delivering a message from Tane?

Tetiaroa Atoll provides critical nesting habitat for green sea turtles and native birds. Unfortunately, invasive rats pose an ongoing threat to the survival of their young.

But, there is hope. Together, we can protect sea turtles and other native species by removing invasive rats.

Tetiaroa Society receives generous support from The Brando for our core operations, but our ability to carry out innovative programs depends on your help -- any amount is appreciated!

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Tetiaroa Society is a US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID #45-1080688). We host scientific research, develop and implement conservation and education programs, and curate the island's knowledge base. We partner with The Brando to establish Tetiaroa as a model for sustainability, where businesses, non-profits, scientists, educators and the local community work together for common goals. Our program objectives are summarized in our Conservation and Sustainable Use Plan, which is available on our website.