Sea Turtles: The Real Mermaids
Tara A. Spears
“We can all take a lesson from the sea turtle. She does not travel thousands of miles to risk everything for her ego. She has an instinct for greatness — one that is found in all living creatures.” unknown
Many people are fascinated by the sea turtle. This marine creature inspires as it glides through the ocean enduring for millennia. There are only seven types of marine turtles worldwide with most of the species in danger of extinction. Caring about the survival of sea turtles is more than romanticizing wildlife, it is more than rooting for the underdog, it’s caring about the state of the oceans and the environment now and in the future. Today, sea turtles and their nests are protected both by global regulation and Mexican law.
Healthy oceans need sea turtles. Sea turtles are a ‘keystone species’, which means they are an important part of their environment and influence other species around them. If a keystone species is removed from a habitat, the natural order can be disrupted, which impacts other wildlife and fauna in several ways.
Along the coast of Jaltemba Bay (the Eastern Pacific Ocean coast in Nayarit Mexico) the main species is the Olive Ridley sea turtle, also known as the Pacific Ridley. August is in the prime sea turtle nesting season which occurs from June to October so it’s important to be aware of the possibility of nests on the beach.
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. It’s turtle nesting season— please clear the beach at night so the turtles can release their eggs.
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. In JB December is prime turtle hatchling release time. 
According to National Geographic, Green sea turtles encounter numerous hurdles in their lifetime. They are born in the sand where the hatchlings shed their leathery eggshells and squirm relentlessly in concert with their legion of siblings. This action actually sifts the sand below them, which is why their empty eggshells can be found on the beaches long after the hatchlings are gone.
Upon surfacing, juveniles scramble to the sea, orienting to the horizon and surf along the way. Those that survive the surf and heavy predation of coastal waters will go on to live long lives, traveling hundreds of thousands of miles in a lifelong search for food throughout the largest habitat on earth: the open ocean. Natal homing ensures that females will eventually return to nesting sites at or near their birthplace. Pregnant, and weighing hundreds of pounds more since their last landfall, the mothers dredge themselves through sand and pebbles to deposit their precious clutch, before slipping silently into the sea. Egg laying may occur many times throughout the breeding season. In the beach sand the eggs will incubate and weeks later, the next generation will emerge.
Near Jaltemba Bay there are two turtle sanctuaries that accept donations, volunteers, or visiting the facility. On the less populated north end of Jaltemba Bay is a turtle protection group, Campamento Tortuguero Naranjo (CTN, in La Colonia.) They patrol three beaches: El Naranjo, Rincon de Guayabitos, and Punta Raza in Jaltemba Bay. For information and reservations: 322 303 8126 y 322 168 5156 will contact the director, Ricardo Villaseñor.
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. “People should not touch the eggs.” Francisco believes that if people learn about the sea turtle life cycle they will have a greater appreciation for turtles. “The marine turtle doesn’t produce eggs until she is at least eight years old; any egg destroyed will not be replaced for almost a decade!”
Another facility is the Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde, A.C., Calle America Latina 102, Casa Tortuga, San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico. They always need volunteers. It’s best to call between noon-6 pm for information or to arrange a visit. Tel: +52 311-258-4100. Email: projecttortuga@gmail.com or grupo-eco@project-tortuga.org. This dedicated family managed group has been helping sea turtles for 32 years! Such a wonderful benefit to the sea turtles and the local environment.
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. Let’s all reduce plastic at the beach to help the sea turtles thrive.
