Question: If you lived in Cyprus patrolling Sea Turtles, why did you stop and go into the Science business?

Zara Gladman answered on 13 Jun 2011:

Hello Laura!

I’m glad you’re interested in the turtles, I loved seeing them in Cyprus! The reason I stayed in Cyprus for a short time was because the turtles only come to nest on the beaches there during the summer. Early in the season, females come and dig nests in which they lay their eggs. Later in the summer, the eggs hatch and baby turtles dig their way out of the sand and make a bid for the sea. It was my job to make sure the baby turtles were safe from predators and that they made it to the sea OK and didn’t go the wrong way! After all the nests have hatched and the baby turtles are at sea, the job is done! That’s why I didn’t stay in Cyprus – there would be no point in patrolling along an empty beach!

I also didn’t stay in Cyprus because I was working as a short-term volunteer (I wasn’t getting paid). I had to come home and look for a job. By doing a PhD, I can still study animals (crayfish, not turtles!) but I get paid to do it. Also, there are crayfish in our rivers all year round – I don’t have to wait until summer for them to appear, like I did with the turtles!