Bernard Devaux of SOPTOM visits TCC

Soon after Gerald and Guundie left, we were honoured by a visit from Bernard Devaux from France. The last time I had seen Bernard was in 1995 when I attended the International Chelonian Congress he organised in France. He had given me a partial grant to attend the congress.

Bernard is well-known in the turtle community. He owns the Tortoise Village in Gonfaron, France and has also established Tortoise Villages in Senegal and Madagascar. He produces a magazine, La Tortue which is published three times a year. He is the recipient of the Behler Award this year.

I think Bernard was pleased with what he saw – our efforts, newly-emerged river terrapins, and adult males and females of painted terrapins in our fortnightly sampling program. All these provided rare photo opportunities for him.

We bumped into Daniel from HOPE in the Friday market and he joined in our activities and spent a night at our base.