A full-fledged care center will soon be established at the headquarters of the SOP Manu association in Toahotu. This mission has been entrusted to Samantha Renault, an expert on the subject after spending ten years caring for petrels in Reunion Island. In Polynesia, particularly in Tahiti, annual figures are rising, with 300 to 500 seabird strandings due to light pollution. Supported by several public and private partners, the initiative is also the subject of a call for donations.
The Polynesian Ornithological Society (SOP) Manu has been working since 1990 to protect the endemic birds of Fenua through various conservation and awareness programs. Today, the association is supported by a technical team of 14 people, eight of whom are based in Tahiti, supplemented by 20 to 30 active volunteers spread across several municipalities.
The association's headquarters are located in Toahotu. On the peninsula, the Mitirapa neighborhood fare is well known to residents who have experienced the stranding of a seabird at least once, since it also serves as a refuge. “Basically, we do rescue work in addition to our other missions ,” explains Maya Tehau, an executive assistant with the association for nearly ten years. “We take in stranded birds, provide the necessary care, or release them directly for those that are in good shape. Over time, the rescue and Manu's projects have grown, so we needed someone dedicated to care and to unite the network.”
