Craving some warm sunshine and an opportunity to enjoy the famed bird life, we arrived in beautiful Tobago following a comfortable direct flight from London with Virgin Atlantic, and thought we had landed in paradise. We spent two weeks in the north of the island and a month in the south and until today we have loved every moment–the warm hospitality, friendly people, fantastic beaches and swimming.
In particular, the outings with Tobago's knowledgeable and professional bird guides with whose assistance we have seen and identified more than 160 birds. Having had a magical day swimming at Turtle Beach, enjoying the antics of the wonderful brown pelicans and the diving terns we sought to repeat this experience on Christmas day.
To our dismay while swimming in the bay near where the pelicans had landed on a boat we heard a number of gun shots. On our return to the shore one of our party who had been bird watching with binoculars from the beach informed us that the gun shots had been directed at the pelicans, four of which had been killed, retrieved from the water and taken away by two men in a blue boat which left in the direction of the Plymouth jetty.
This occurrence distressed us greatly. In a country that clearly cherishes its natural life, which is also highly valued by the many visitors who come especially to engage with it, we felt it important to put on record our concern and highlight the need for ongoing vigilance to protect Tobago's magnificent natural heritage.
Mary and Joseph Briggs and Elizabeth Sullivan,
visitors from UK and Ireland