Although the turtle nesting season is slowing down for the mama turtles, the tortugaritas are still eagerly making their way to the sea. The stats below are as of 25 August and the mamas are still laying on every beach.
If you are an early beach walker you may see a CEA staff member or volunteer digging to what seems like to China! This is the activity of cleaning out nests. which is very important. Some babies make it up to the top and out to sea, but not all of them. The smell of the hatched eggs brings predators that feast on the babies still in the nest trying to make their way to the surface. Security guards on all beaches and the additional volunteer shifts are helpful for keeping the animals away during the dark hours. Mostly raccoon and Coatis are the ones sneaking around just waiting to sniff out their next meal. Cleaning of the nest also helps with the data that is processed for the government through the Centro Ecológico Association. The empty shells are counted to verify how many babies made it out of the nest alive. Documentation of infertile eggs, death, and information from tools the biologists sometimes plant with the eggs to measure temperature and more. is crucial for the ongoing research of this miracle of mother nature. Nest cleaning is a nasty job at times, but to those who have experienced the joy of finding a trapped baby tortugarita that would not have made it, is well worth it to these hard workers who love their babies!
Half Moon Bay (Media Luna) – 134 nests
Akumal Bay (Bahía Akumal) – 224 nests
Jade Beach (Playa Tortuga) -405 nests
Akumal South (Akumal Sur) -29
Loggerheads (Tortuga Caguama) – 179
Green Turtles (Tortuga Blanca) – 613
Leave a Reply