Police Rescue 127 Sea Turtle Hatchlings in Chelem

In the early morning hours, Progreso municipal police found 127 sea turtle hatchlings on the beach in Chelem. Because of their condition, officers gathered the tiny turtles and took them to a designated spot on the beach for a safe release.

The rescue is one of many this season. As of Sept. 9, Progreso police had counted 2,164 hatchlings rescued since nesting began, thanks to regular beach patrols and calls from the public.

Police did not say which species the hatchlings belonged to. Several kinds of sea turtles nest along the Yucatán coast, most commonly green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles.

Night shift on the beach

Progreso’s municipal police say officers keep watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and turtle calls follow a clear pattern. About 90% of reports come in between nightfall and the first hours of the morning, when females come ashore to nest, and hatchlings dig their way out of the sand.

Police credit residents for much of the work. Quick calls to 911 let officers reach the turtles faster.

The job doesn’t end once officers find the hatchlings. Officers try to identify the nest they came from and follow protocols to decide the right time and place to release them into the sea.

Foreign residents with homes near the coast are among the groups that have helped. Authorities have also asked beachfront property owners not to aim floodlights at the sand.

Why lights matter

Artificial light confuses both nesting females and hatchlings. Baby turtles instinctively crawl toward the brightest horizon, which should be the moonlit sea. Bright lights on land can pull them in the wrong direction, away from the water and inland, where many die.

The problem is familiar to anyone who has spent time on the beaches of Florida, where wildlife officials urge beachfront residents to keep lights low and shielded during hatching season.

Peak season now

Nesting season on the Yucatán coast begins in spring, and eggs take roughly 45 to 60 days to hatch. That makes July through November the main window for hatchlings, with September and October the busiest months.

For people living on or visiting the coast, the advice is simple. Report any turtle, hatchling or possible nest to 911. Don’t pick up or move the animals; leave handling and release to trained staff.

Fast Facts

• Where: Chelem beaches, municipality of Progreso
• Hatchlings found: 127
• Season total: 2,164 rescued as of Sept. 9
• When reports come in: About 90% between night and early morning
• Peak hatching: September and October
• To report a turtle or nest: Call 911
• Please don’t: Handle hatchlings or shine lights on the beach

With reporting from Por Esto!