Bitti, guards and studies a colony of turtles: the little Gabriele awarded at the age of ten

"Honorary guardian of the Porto Ainu turtles".

With this recognition , the Forest Guard awarded a Bitti middle school pupil who, with his work as a small volunteer, has been collaborating for years for the protection of a large colony of turtles that populate the shore of Porto Ainu beach during the summer. , in Tanaunella di Budoni. Every year in October, the little lover of marine biology observes, notes and catalogs each small specimen of tortoise, studying its behavior and size.

A colony of turtles that of Porto Ainu that has always lived in the pond, however endangered by the presence of three specimens of Ttachemys Scripta, a species of tortoise native to the Americas which is considered a predator of native amphibians, birds and sedentary fish. Noting the impending danger that risked upsetting the balance of the natural habitats of the area, little Gabriele reported the risky phenomenon to the Forestry Corps.

The rangers had immediately set to work and had captured the three alien specimens, but the problem had only been buffered. The same little Gabriele in another round of patrol then found another Trachemys thus raising the alarm to his parents, Emanuele Argiolas and Katia Calvisi, who in turn alerted the rangers again. The agents of the naval base of La Caletta intervened and after a few ambushes, they managed to capture this new competitor as well.

Gabriele's constant commitment has thus earned him the title of "honorary keeper of the turtles of Portu Ainu". An example to follow for his peers and beyond.