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esidents and tourists of all
ages are invited to learn a little about island wildlife every week, at the
booth hosted by the Les
Fruits de Mer Association at the Mardis de Grand Case street fair each Tuesday.
Everyone is welcome and
encouraged to come by the booth, which is staffed by local wildlife experts and
nature lovers and features different fascinating topics each week. Topics from
past Tuesdays have included birds, insects, and sea turtles, and a special
marine mammals theme on March 4th with displays provided by the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin. Visitors to the booth can see short multimedia
Discovery Presentations about the wildlife topic of the week, “Ask the Expert”
questions about local wildlife, and even have species identified from photos.
“Anyone who stops by for just a
couple minutes can learn something new and interesting about this island,” says
Mark Yokoyama, Les Fruits de Mer cofounder and author of The Incomplete
Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin. “We're especially happy that so many
kids come visit the booth each week.” Many people also pass by to share their
stories and memories of local wildlife, according to Yokoyama: “We're really
excited to be creating a public space where that happens.”
“Mardis de Grand Case is such a
great showcase for the spirit and culture of the island, so it's really fun to
be including wildlife–which of course is also a unique part of the island's
heritage,” explains Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “It's the perfect
opportunity to show a different side of St. Martin/St. Maarten to the thousands
of tourists and residents who attend these street fairs throughout the season.”
The wildlife theme for this
coming Tuesday, March 11th, will be local lizards. “Want to know which lizards
live only on this island and nowhere else in the world? What lizards have been
introduced here by humans? Why are there so many iguanas here now?” asks
Yokoyama. “Come by the Les Fruits de Mer booth on Tuesday to find
out!”
The Les Fruits de Mer booth is open every Tuesday
from 6-10pmat the Mardis de Grand Case street fair in Grand Case. The booth is
located by the lolos.
Les
Fruits de Mer is a non-profit association based in St. Martin whose core
mission is to raise awareness about nature, culture, and sport. The
organization carries out this mission through publications, an education
program, and special public outreach events that entertain, inspire, and
inform. The Association is currently accepting new member and corporate
benefactor member applications on its website, http://ass.lesfruitsdemer.org.
(Photo by Mark Yokoyama)
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