Farquhar gets conservation boost |11 August 2004

Dr Gerard Rocamora of ICS presented the donation – consisting of a binocular set and several books and CDs – to Farquhar manager Elvis Stravens of the Island Development Company (IDC) on Friday at ICS headquarters just outside Victoria.

“I hope they will find this useful on the island,” Dr Rocamora said, also calling the donation, worth around 350 Euros, somewhat of a symbolic gesture.

He said, however, that with the recent sighting of rare terns on Farquhar’s seabird colony of Goullette, reference books like Zwazo Sesel that made up part of the donation would help keep Farquhar staff aware of the wildlife scene around the atoll, which plays a big part in the managerial process.

The binoculars, he added, should come in handy when identifying birds from a distance, so as not to disturb their activities.

Mr Stravens said the binoculars would also help in the fight against illegal actions around Farquhar. “The atoll is huge, and in the case of poaching it is difficult to see from very far.”

ICS has an advisory role with IDC concerning the monitoring of wildlife and conservation on the outer islands, which Dr Rocamora said has recently been formalised with a memorandum of understanding.