Sea Turtle Season: Don’t touch Tara A. Spears
The Olive Ridley sea turtle, also known as the Pacific Ridley, has their nesting period June though November along the Riviera Nayarit coast. Several nests were found this past week on Coral Island in Jaltemba Bay.
Sea turtles have inhabited the world’s oceans for 150 million years, and have survived natural climate change events, including the last Ice Age. Today, they’re protected both by global regulation and Mexican law.
Even though it is an amazing experience to observe sea turtles in their natural habitats, remember to watch from a distance. It is illegal to touch or tamper with sea turtles and their nests. Every summer sea turtles start arriving on the shores of the Riviera Nayarit to nest their eggs. Forty-five days later, their eggs begin to hatch, attracting visitors looking to experience the magic of life first-hand by taking part in Jaltemba Bay region’s turtle hatching season.
Nightly during the summer and through the fall, dozens of turtles arrive at the area’s beaches. From 11 pm to 5 am, biologists and trained volunteers protect the sea turtles by collecting their eggs in order that the beach-goers can’t accidentally disturb the nests during the day. The eggs are taken to a nursery at one of the sea turtle groups where, after about 45 days, the baby turtles are born. Depending on the organization, they may invite the public to come to a hatchling release.
On the less populated north end of Jaltemba Bay is a turtle protection group, Campamento Tortuguero Naranjo (CTN) in La Colonia/ Groupo Ecologistas de Nayarit A.C. They patrol three beaches: El Naranjo, Rincon de Guayabitos and Punta Raza in the Bahia de Jaltemba. The main sea turtle species they work with is the Olive Ridley. A local man, Francisco Davalos, cell 331 692 1205, volunteers with CTN. “I want the visitors to be aware that the turtles are here,” said Francisco. “They need to not touch the eggs.” Francisco believes that if people learn about the sea turtle life cycle they will have a greater appreciation for turtle. “The turtle doesn’t produce eggs until she is at least eight years old; any egg destroyed will not be replaced for almost a decade!”
In addition to paroling at night looking for new nests, the CTN group brings the eggs to their site to a protected hatchery for maximum care. When the eggs hatch, the biologist determines the optimal time and volunteers supervise the release of the hatchlings. The group also works at creating environmental awareness and encouraging others to help save the turtles.
Before the development of ecological turtle protection programs, only 40% of the eggs that were laid along the Mexican coast survived, but today, thanks to programs such as CTN, almost 96% of the eggs deposited are incubated successfully.
The coasts of Mexico are recognized for hosting one of the largest and most diverse assemblages of sea turtles in the world. The significance of the nesting, feeding and shelter areas of seven of the eight species recognized by the current taxonomy is vital according to the National Committee for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles.
When the sun sets, turtles come to nest on the beach. If you have seen turtle crawl marks in the sand, it’s very likely other prehistoric reptiles could come ashore at night. Whether you’ll be able to see this phenomenon is somewhat a matter chance, that is, being in the right place at the right time: late-summer on a dark Mexican beach.
If you are serious about seeing turtles nest, ask a local CTN volunteer where to go, bring something to sip on (wine or beer works well,) and go after 10 pm to sit on the beach. It is so beautiful to watch the lightening or stars over the ocean! If you’re lucky a giant darker shape will slowly emerge from the sea and continue her arduous climb up the dune. She is only a dark shadow heaving clumsily across lighter colored sand.
Typically the mature female that comes to nest will be larger than a jumbo garbage can lid, pulling herself slowly upward with her long flippers. When she climbed about halfway up the dune, she will begin to dig. Remain still because she can be distracted, causing her to abort. After laying the eggs, the mother will bury the eggs: how deep the cover depends on the weather conditions. Lastly, she turns and lumbers back into the sea.
Photographing sea turtles is a controversial subject because they can be very sensitive to disturbance. If you really want to play it safe, the simple answer is don’t do it. All sea turtles are protected endangered species and need all the help they can get. That’s why it’s so important not to impede their nesting behavior. However, it is possible to take a picture of a nesting sea turtle without disturbing it-don’t use a flash or get physically too close.
It is the eighth wonder of the world to observe the miracle of sea turtle nesting. Just the majesty of this giant coming out of its domain to carry on the species is such a powerful experience. You will be rooting for her as she struggles inch by inch on the sand.
For information about turtle nesting, contact Francisco Davalos cell 331 692 1205 or Matias Pulgar (English) 331 692 1205
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