SAVING SEA TURTLES IN CANCUN

GUEST POST BY LOLA MENDEZ

Encountering a sea turtle in the wild is a fascinating experience. Green turtles, loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, and leatherback turtles nest on the beaches of the Mexican Caribbean from June to November. Unfortunately, sea turtles are in danger of extinction due to human impact.

Tourism is an economic driver in Cancun and must support the conservation of the species. The Sea Turtle Comprehensive Conservation Program at Palace Resorts is the only program in the private sector of Quintana Roo, México. The program aims to rehabilitate the local sea turtle population through a team of biologists, veterinarians, and environmental engineers who monitor, protect, and research to support the conservation of nesting female turtles, eggs, and hatchlings. Some research projects include photo-identification for recognition of nesting female turtles to understand the population of female sea turtles that nest in the area and a satellite monitoring program to learn about migration routes.

In Cancun, the group cares for sea turtle at Sun Palace, Beach Palace, and Le Blanc resorts in addition to nests in front of other brand’s properties. Since 2006, there have been 18,556 nests with 2,063,003 eggs, and 1,716,769 hatchlings released (as of August 2019). Last year Palace Resorts properties documented an unusually large number of sea turtles arriving at their beaches. In 2019, there were 3,120 nests with 356,461 protected eggs and 305,805 hatchlings released into the sea. As of mid-June 2020, there have been 59 nests with 6,520 eggs.

Tourists can support the initiative to save sea turtles in Cancun by joining night tours held from May to October. Visitors will partake in protecting the nesting female turtles on the beach, collecting eggs, and releasing turtle hatchlings in a responsible manner. While staying at Le Blanc, I joined the nightly release of sea turtle hatchlings. It was the first time I saw them laying eggs and I assisted with collecting eggs from nests to move them to the nursery.

At Le Blac, tourists are trained before coming into contact with hatchlings. We were told to never touch the under part of their bodies or their fins. Instead, we were directed to gently hold them in a pinching manner with our pointer finger and thumb gently on the side of the shell and release them by the shore. It’s crucial that hatchlings only touch the sand. Females remember the coordinates of where they’re born and return to the same location to lay eggs. Programs that release hatchlings in coconut shells or bowls are disturbing this critical process.

You can responsibly observe these incredible creatures in the wild. When viewing a sea turtle that’s nesting, always stay behind the sea turtle so you’re not in her range of vision as she may get spooked and abandon her nest. Never shine a light on the turtle, including flash photography. Whenever you see a sea turtle in the ocean or on the shore you should maintain a distance of at least 10 feet.