A "Turtle Wise" Update from the Ecological Group of Costa Verde Frank Smith - Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde
November 2, 2021

This year will be the second-largest nesting season out of thirty years, with over 1,227 nests recorded by the end of October. Also, we are pleased to see the thousands of hatchling tracks leading down to the sea. The tracks are living proof of the outstanding dedication and hard work of some 26 volunteers this season. This October, we had recorded 117 nests, andCarol to date an estimated 96,000 hatchlings have made their way to the sea as nature had intended.

The following articles were taken from the international “Marine Turtle Newsletter”:

“To increase their chances of survival, it is better to allow the hatchlings to reach the sea immediately after emergence. Any period of captivity should be strongly discouraged. Activities such as this will negatively impact and even fatally effect the normal development of hatchlings and should be stopped.

Therefore, hatchlings should be allowed to crawl across the beach naturally to the sea at the same time or evening as they emerge from their nests.”

Over the past several years our volunteers have collected hatchlings to release during public and small private gatherings. Although public releasing of hatchlings was a good idea, the method of collecting these hatchlings was seriously flawed. It meant that hatchlings had to be gathered during the day and placed in baskets for hours. This confinement caused the hatchlings to become frantic in their effort to reach the sea.

In a frantic state of panic, the hatchlings quickly consumed what little energy remained within their body, and their chances of survival is greatly diminished, causing the loss of hundreds of hatchlings. Early this year we corrected this problem.

Although due to an irresponsible, misleading, and inaccurate accusations about hatchlings, we have not been able to drive the CRV on the beach while the dune buggy is being repaired. Unfortunately, we are outnumbered by the poachers and our volunteers are now walking the beach, which has allowed the poachers to take nearly a dozen extra nests in October alone.

We would like to thank our October volunteers: Karen Sorum, Hallie Loveridge, Esteban Millard, Sandra Lee, Christian García, Taylor Kimbell, Maria Markham, Julie Palatan, and Adrien Dion, Ricky Burke, Susie Stephens, and Malka Katz. Also, we would like to thank the many members of the community that have stepped forward to help us.

Weather-wise, daytime temperatures have been in the mid to very high 80°, while nighttime temperatures have been in the low to mid-70°. Total rainfall through October came to 71.04 inches, and for October, we received over 2.06 inches. No serious hurricane activity for nearly six years.

We are exceptionally indebted to the October donors: Gale Greer, Lynda Gilman, Terry West, Patricia Schmidt, Karen Hope, Jennifer Nelsen, Jennifer Burke, Rick Burke, and Susie Stephens. To donate, go to Contribute. Because of the pandemic, we have no other way of obtaining donations aside from PayPal, so please help if you can.

Email: grupo-eco@project-tortuga.org
Website: Project-Tortuga.org
Facebook page: San Pancho Marine Turtle Project
Instagram: projecttortugasanpancho

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