Less than 0.01% of the eggs hatch… and even fewer survive and reach adulthood. There are so many dangers for these little ones - the eggs are considered an aphrodisiac in Mexico, and if they are not by people or dogs looking for a snack, the hatched little ones often don’t make it to the water and suffocate beneath the sand. There are many turtle preservation camps around the world, one of which is right here in San Pancho, Mexico. Volunteers fly in from around the world, taking turns patrolling the beach at night to mark the locations of the nests. These are then taken to an incubator in the village until the little turtles are ready to face the ocean.
Witnessing this was nothing short of amazing. I hung out at the beach and waited for the sunset when I saw a man with a bunch of buckets starting to make markings on the sand - take a look!
It’s remarkable to witness the beginning of a journey, so fragile and hopeful. Check out the San Pancho turtle preservation camp for more info… In 16 years, the local turtle population has increased from 72 to 661 nesting females.
Here they are, swimming in the sand…
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by Katya Nova
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