CEA Turtle Season- August 2016

August has been a busy time and also a difficult time for the Tortugueros. The Blanca/Green mommas that normally visit our beaches starting in June, were later this season and have come in force!  Reports of 16 Blancas on Akumal Sur in one night, 7 on Playa Tortuga in 45 minutes early one evening, mommas still on beaches at sunrise which is unusual AND of course it is hatchling time, plenty of babies starting their journey from the shores of Akumal Beaches!  The STAFF has been kept VERY busy! Also the storms  arrived which means, many nights of working in the rain – or due to lightning and extreme conditions, not working at all.

Properly marking nests is much more difficult when the Tortuguero is not there to watch the eggs drop.  To officially mark the nest for the Government’s report, the licensed official must SEE the eggs, which if not there in person when laid means digging in mountains of sand to find the nest the next morning.  The Tortuguero’s job if difficult enough with the long night hours (9P-5A), the mosquitos, the rain, the situations – this adds just one more challenge.  CEA is very lucky to have a great group of hard working, turtle-loving, preservation-conscious  Tortugueros on Staff.  If you see them on the beach, say HI and by all means “Muchas Gracias” ! These Tortugueros deserve our support!!

august

 

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This Blanca momma didn’t finish her nesting until sunrise. This is seen very rarely- but what a treat the pictures are when staff finds one in the morning.
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Out to sea with a beautiful sunrise, after hours on the beach digging her nest and laying her eggs-the water has to be a wonderful welcome.
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This is what is called “an explosion” or “bubbling” in shop talk between tortugueros. The babies all make it to surface, sleeping ones being pushed further out on the sand as the ones down lower rush to reach the surface- then they all to at once. Something to see , an amazement of Mother Nature.

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