Turtle Season 2007
During the summer months, the endangered sea turtle makes her nest along the beaches of the Mexican Caribbean, among other tropical and subtropical beaches through out the world. Beginning at the end of April, the nesting season of 2007 is well over a month underway. So, how are things looking in Akumal – the Place of the Turtle - for these peaceful, prehistoric animals and their potential offspring?
Sac-Be met with the director of Centro Ecológico Akumal, Paul Sanchez-Navarro, to learn a bit more of the date collected so far in 2007 by the Turtle Protection Program. This particular program has been in place since CEA’s inception in 1994, and volunteers from around the globe come to participate in and learn about the nesting procedure of sea turtles. And, so far, the program has collected data from the 65+ nests that have been laid along the beaches of Half Moon Bay, South Akumal, and Jade Bay, none of which have hatched at this point.
Sac-Be was concerned to learn that the Loggerhead turtles are typically the first to come ashore to lay their eggs in the earlier months of the nesting season, and they have been few in number. This decreased number of Loggerheads appears to be true up and down the coast, though the beaches to the south of Akumal, including Tulum and Sian Ka’an, have much higher numbers of Loggerhead nests.
Why a decline? Without scientific studies, we can only go on conjecture. However, the increased number of lights on the beachfront condos and houses is certainly a deterrent for the turtles. Also, beach chairs, loungers, and tables left too close to the water’s edge create obstacles for the turtles. There are dogs as well that do not help the situation. If left outside for the whole evening, a dog’s natural instinct is to dig up the nests and eat the eggs. This behavior is also true of some wild animals, like raccoons.
All in all, Sanchez-Navarro was happy with the nests that have already occurred, as well as a bit concerned about the decline in one species in particular. We will learn more about the nesting season as the months pass, but don’t forget to do your part in Akumal by turning off your beach lights, moving your beach furniture in from the water’s edge, as well as ensuring that your pets are kept inside throughout the night.
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