An interesting season for turtles this year in July. Normally by July the Loggerheads have come ashore and laid their eggs, leaving only the Green/Blanca turtles to nest on our beaches. This year the Loggerheads are still coming in with the Green/Blancas! Having a large presence of Loggerheads is very exciting for the CEA Tortuga Program, as they are the most endangered and have not had a large presence or increase on the beaches of Akumal since the program began – their numbers have stayed very consistent while the Green/Blancas have grown in count. So on our beaches now we have many Loggerhead babies hatching beside both species still laying. The numbers are very strong on some beaches that normally don’t have a large showing. Akumal Sur beach that recorded only 29 nests last year and under 40 the year before is up to 70 nests. Much of this success is being accredited to the relationship the Akumal Sur Homeowners Association has embraced with CEA and the tortuga team. When beaches are dark, free of obstacles, and supported by cooperative residents, it is proving to welcome the turtles. ASHOA has expanded their interest in working with CEA turtle program for the last 2 years and the nest count speaks volumes.
With the Voluntourist program in operation this year, there have been many extra eyes on some of the beaches helping to protect babies hatching and keeping an eye out for concerns on the beaches. It’s been a great help on Playa Tortuga; the TAO Tortuga Team is out every morning and early evening helping the tortugueras. This program has been very successful and CEA hopes it is able to extend to every beach in Akumal next year.
With tortugaritas hatching, it is very important that beachfront properties keep the light (inside as well) to a minimum. The turtle team has fished babies out of pools and off porches. The babies see the lights and get confused on their journey to find the sea. The lights attract them, and this can cause casualties. The CEA Tortuga Team works very hard to ensure every momma, nest, egg and tortugarita are protected while on Akumal beaches. Please help ensure the little ones get their difficult journey off to a good start. Trash is another factor that makes the babies’ journey difficult. This year a Voluntourist observed one little guy who had emerged from the sand with a plastic bottle top ring around part of his body! He only had the use of one front fin and never would have survived if he even made it to the sea. Please help control the litter on our beaches!
CEA had a very special “Honorary Tortuguera” join the team one night. Make A Wish Foundation of Canada brought a 16 year old whose wish was to work with the turtles in Akumal for a day. The Quintana Roo chapter of Make A Wish contacted CEA to help and of course, CEA was excited to help make this dream come true. Jessi and her family arrived and were treated to a swim with the turtles under the sea as well as an experience with a Tortuguera at night, watching turtles on the beach, nesting, eggs laid and marking her very own nest. A dream come true for this wonderful young lady and a very memorable experience for the whole team at CEA.
We still have months of turtling this year – so keep up the good work on the beaches and remember to watch the CEA website, blog, and FaceBook page for all updates and current, accurate information.
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