More than 200 baby hawksbill sea turtles released in Sisal
More than 200 baby hawksbill sea turtles were released Saturday afternoon from the port of Sisal as part of the Yucatan government’s efforts to protect and conserve local wildlife and the environment.
The release’s goal is to reintegrate the turtles into their natural habitat. Upon reaching adulthood, the turtles will return to the Yucatán coast to continue their reproductive cycle.
Toshio Yokoyama Cobá, the Director of Management and Conservation of Natural Resources at the Secretariat of Sustainable Development (SDS), participated in the release along with park rangers and young volunteers from Sisal, Telchac, and Dzilam de Bravo.
Turtle camps have been established to protect as many nests as possible, aiming to increase the number of hatchlings that reach the sea. This, in turn, will hopefully result in more adult turtles returning to Yucatan’s beaches to nest.
Nest Data
For the 2024 season — which runs from April to October — 1,251 nests have been recorded so far. Of these, 1,249 are hawksbill turtle nests, and 2 are white turtle nests. The nests are distributed across state-run camps, with 735 in Sisal, 450 in Telchac Puerto, and 66 in Dzilam de Bravo. These efforts are part of the Conservation and Protection of Sea Turtles program in Yucatan.
Sea Turtle Species in Yucatan
Three of the seven species of sea turtles that nest on Yucatan’s beaches are hawksbill, white, and loggerhead. All three species are protected under Mexican Official Standards NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 and NOM-162-SEMARNAT-2012, which mandate their protection and preservation.
Important Reminders
Motor vehicles and horses are strictly prohibited on the beaches, as they pose a significant threat to sea turtle nests and hatchlings.
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