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A pound of flesh to save a nest. Rachel after a crash
in the jungle during our anti poaching patrol (2002). She is one tough competitor and has had a large impact on survival
of our Sea Turtles on Punta Pargos.
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About Rachel  Rachel Ward has been a driving force behind the mission from the time it was just a dream, a dream that we could save
one nest and then possibly save the Sea Turtle from extinction on Punta Pargos. Rachel and myself (M. Ward) were the first
ones to hit the beach, alone but determined we got tired of trying to find help and we just got out there in the night and
started doing it.
Rachel was there when we patrolled on bicycles, she took a terrible fall one night, lost about
a pound of flesh, and still managed to finish the patrol, then she was out of the loop for 10 days. Before she was totally
healed she was back out on patrol. This was the first time we decided we had to rent a car if we were going to continue the
patrol efficiently.
During the 05/06 season Rachel was pregnant so her patrol responsibility was taken off her
plate. But she still insisted on doing evening patrols, which were under-manned, to cover the early night high tides, she
patrolled until she was 7.5 months pregnant (the baby is perfect.) She still presented in every school seminar and also did
nest reclamation during the day. I have never seen anyone work so hard to change a wrong; she has been a turtle guardian angel.
Rachel coordinates STF day-to-day operations and is usually working on four or five projects at once. I have no idea
how we could have survived without her total dedication to our project.
Rachel also spearheaded our educational
program, even publishing our marine turtle conservation-coloring book, which we use in our classrooms. Rachel has put in more
time on STF than any other volunteer.
Currently she holds several possitions including:
Vice President, Educational Director, Geographical Research Director, Secretary and board member. Wow!
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