Silvera
Charlie the Turtle

Farewell, Charlie

Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator

If anyone told me that I would be paying tribute to a turtle during my lifetime I would tell them they are lying, but it is with the deepest respect that I invite all Hospitality Jamaica readers to join me in saying farewell to Charlie the Turtle, August 17, 1951 to September 14, 2009.

HOUSEHOLD NAME

Charlie was a household name at Couples Sans Souci with locals as well as visitors and my relationship with her spans back to the days I was a marketing officer with the Jamaica Tourist Board.

According to Couples Sans Souci's history book, it was approximately 8:30 p.m. on Friday, August 17, 1951 that Jamaica was being pounded by a powerful hurricane named Charlie with winds of over 100 miles per hour. In its aftermath, the hurricane left 154 people dead, 25,000 victims homeless and an injured Green Sea Turtle washed up on the shores of the Ocho Rios resort.

Female sea turtles will visit beaches/land during the nesting season which runs from summer to October to lay eggs. It is thought that is how Charlie initially came close to the shore and got caught in the hurricane. Sea turtles generally live to an average of just over 100 years old. They are slow in developing, reaching sexual maturity in 20-30 years. If Charlie was over 30 years when she came on land 58 years ago, that would place her to be at least 88 years old minimum. No one knows how many trips she made before.

NEW HOME

This turtle took refuge in a grotto on the property where it rested and eventually settled, having a cave as its new home. Soon to be named after the hurricane, Charlie the Turtle grew to become a Jewel of the later constructed Sans Souci Resort. The resort even named its spa after Charlie. Her popularity grew internationally with all who graced their eyes on her, both staff and guests alike.

There was a regular feeding schedule put in place by the management of the resort to ensure that her diet was efficiently taken care of. The interest of all visitors was so great that the 'Feeding of Charlie' became one of the most anticipated events to watch. "Couples Sans Souci prides itself in its ability to play a part in preserving the legacy of endangered Sea Turtles, a group to which our beloved Charlie belonged," says Alex Ghisays, public relations director of Couples Resorts.

She said educational training is also provided to the team members of the resort about the importance of preserving these marine reptiles.

BREATHED HER LAST

During the week of September 12, Charlie began to display signs of deteriorating health. She was not eating as before and was not the active swimmer the resort became accustomed to for over 50 years. The management quickly contacted two veterinarians for assistance.

The local management agency for environmental affairs and regulations was also alerted to the situation. Tests were done and multiple visits made by the veterinarians to observe Charlie and administer treatments.

Charlie was kept close to a sanded area in the water for closer monitoring during the process and staff members would ensure she was kept wet and safe. Days later she displayed a burst of energy and actually took what turned out to be her last swim in the place she had called home for 58 years. However, her condition showed no continued improvement, said Ghisays.

On, September 14, about 7 a.m. she was found to be unresponsive by the manager on duty and confirmed dead on arrival of the veterinarian.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com