BONAIRE ~ Netherlands Antilles - Hawksbill turtle~

...Fantastic new exotic place...a little treasure..and with one of my favorite subjects, marine life... especially sea turtles...Bonaire has been a leader in marine protection since 1961, when it passed legislation to protect turtles... Thanks a lot Diana for this wonderful postcard!!


With nice tiny stamp:
Caribbean Netherlands - Subject Sailboats - Optimist
(Issued 01-02-2012)

Photo Dos Winkel Bonaire  is a Caribbean island that, with the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire nestled in its western crescent. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.

Bonaire's capital is Kralendijk. Bonaire was part of the Netherlands Antilles until the country's dissolution on 10 October 2010,when the island (including Klein Bonaire) became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands.

 Bonaire is home to three of the world’s seven species of sea turtles. Green and hawksbill turtles can be seen year-round, while loggerheads generally visit only during the nesting season.

The hawksbill turtle has a pointed face with a distinct beak-like appearance. Its scutes overlap, and the edge of the carapace is serrated toward the rear of the body. Hawksbills weigh up to 85 kg (185 lbs). Bonaire has a juvenile and sub-adult population year round with most adult turtles present only during the nesting season.