US Navy comes to the aid of Roche Caiman Sanctuary
A party of around 30 volunteers from the USS O’Kane (DDG 77) made
productive use of their shore leave in April while their ship was
anchored outside Victoria. The group, led by Chaplain Ron Rinaldi, came
over to Nature Seychelles’ headquarters and set to work to install a
line of fence to protect the Roche Caiman Sanctuary.
The volunteers, helped by Terence Vel, Lucina Denis and Conor Jameson of the Nature Seychelles team, worked all morning to complete the task, before breaking for lunch and team photographs.
‘We could never have done this work without volunteer support’ said Terence Vel afterwards. ‘They’ve done a really good job, and worked hard to get the job done’.
‘It’s important to the US Navy to carry out volunteer projects like this’, said Chaplain Rinaldi. ‘The great thing about jobs like this one is we get to complete it in the time available. It gives everyone in our team a sense of satisfaction to see a job well done, and to know we are putting something in place that will benefit the people and conservation of a place as beautiful as the Seychelles.’
‘I’ve been involved in community projects in different parts of the world’ said volunteer Rich Neuer. Like many of his crewmates he welcomes the chance to get onshore and do something of benefit to communities in different countries. ‘It’s good for our team spirit and camaraderie, and that’s important to us. It’s also nice to see a different kind of environment, and the different wildlife you find in it.’
‘We would like to find other volunteer teams to help us complete the fencing and other habitat management tasks in the Sanctuary’, said Terence Vel. ‘It is true as we have seen today that many hands make light work, and the Sanctuary will be a real asset to Seychelles wildlife and tourism if we can realise its full potential.’
How you can help
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the conservation work of Nature Seychelles, please contact us on email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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| Volunteers help put up fences around the sanctuary © C. Jameson |
‘We could never have done this work without volunteer support’ said Terence Vel afterwards. ‘They’ve done a really good job, and worked hard to get the job done’.
‘It’s important to the US Navy to carry out volunteer projects like this’, said Chaplain Rinaldi. ‘The great thing about jobs like this one is we get to complete it in the time available. It gives everyone in our team a sense of satisfaction to see a job well done, and to know we are putting something in place that will benefit the people and conservation of a place as beautiful as the Seychelles.’
‘I’ve been involved in community projects in different parts of the world’ said volunteer Rich Neuer. Like many of his crewmates he welcomes the chance to get onshore and do something of benefit to communities in different countries. ‘It’s good for our team spirit and camaraderie, and that’s important to us. It’s also nice to see a different kind of environment, and the different wildlife you find in it.’
‘We would like to find other volunteer teams to help us complete the fencing and other habitat management tasks in the Sanctuary’, said Terence Vel. ‘It is true as we have seen today that many hands make light work, and the Sanctuary will be a real asset to Seychelles wildlife and tourism if we can realise its full potential.’
How you can help
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the conservation work of Nature Seychelles, please contact us on email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
