Exploits and Explorations on Masirah Island, Oman
Trip Start
Apr 28, 2010
1
Trip End
May 07, 2010
Masirah Island, Ash Sharqiyah, Oman
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Located off the east coast of Oman, portions of Masirah Island are being considered as a new Nature Reserve to protect one of the largest loggerhead nesting turtle populations in the world (beaches in Oman and Florida represent over 80% of the world's nesting habitat). Masirah Island is approximately 60 miles long and 8 miles wide and has about 10,000 residents. Fishing is the predominate industry. Tourism is increasing - the island has some remarkably beautiful beaches.
We drove to Masirah Island from Muscat - actually, you drive to Shannah (about a 6 hour drive through some incredibly desolate desert landscapes) where you catch a 2-hour ferry over to the island.
During our visit, we met with Rangers who work for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Environment Society of Oman, toured the island, and participated in two nights of field work attaching satellite radio tags to adult female loggerhead turtles. The tagging is an ongoing research effort to learn more about their post nesting movements.
