Puerto Vallarta is a great example of this, since its program, created in 1993, links successfully the tourist companies and the all-levels authorities of into the protection activities and conservation of the marine turtles. Every year, the visitors have been the opportunity to see this animals nesting along the beach, under the protective watch of the police.

 

The objectives

The main objective of this program, is to protect the eggs of the looting and natural predators to obtain a bigger quantity of baby turtles. The eggs are obtained of the nests that the turtles make naturally in any beach, it stops then to plant them in protected corrals (hatcheries), located in the beach of the most important hotels, where they are incubated naturally.

Also, there are organized public liberations of baby turtles to the sea with the participation of tourists and local people, as part of the activities of environmental education, with the purpose of to create a culture of conservation of the natural resources and to give to know the importance of the program of protection of the marine turtles.

The protected species

The importance of the program of protection of marine turtles in Mexico resides in that in the Mexican coasts 7 of the 8 species nest from all over the world. The most common species in Bahia de Banderas and Puerto Vallarta, is the Olive Ridley or "Golfina" (Lepidochelys olivacea), but in occasions they visit us the enormous Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), the Black turtle (Chelonia agassizii) and the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Olive Ridley (Lepidchelys olivacea) and Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)

Tortugas Prieta (Chelonia agassizii) and Carey (Eretmochelys imbricata)

The Olive Ridley nests mainly between June and December, and in each season they can return up to 3 times, depositing in each occasion between 80 and 120 eggs, but sometimes they lay up 160 eggs.

The exact cipher of survival is ignored, but is estimated that in the natural environment, of each 1,000 turtles that are born, between one and five will survive until adulthood, and these will take between 8 and 12 years in maturing enough to be able to reproduce for the first time and to return to spawn to the same beach where they were born. With programs like this, protecting the eggs of their predators, it is estimated that 3 to 5% will survive. Here the success of the program resides, when protecting these organisms during the first and more vulnerable stage of its growth: the incubation of the egg. 

The operation of the Program

The civil organizations take charge of the gathering, transport and delivery of the nests during the nights, assisting the reports of the civil society, and the federal and municipal authorities, as the Naval Sector, Civil Protection and Municipal Police participates actively.

Later on, the recovered eggs are buried in hatcheries or "corrals" of incubation, where they are protected and free of danger during 45 days. Most of these nurseries are located in some of the hotels and more important condominiums who participate actively in this program.

After the baby turtles hatch, between July and December, there are carried out public liberations to the sea of breedings daily with the participation of visitors of everywhere, as part of the activities of environmental education, with the purpose of to create a culture of conservation of the natural resources and to give to know the importance of the program of protection of the marine turtles.

Each participant has the opportunity to release a baby turtle, after having listened an informative speech, and always following the indications given by the Biologist in charge.

Authorized Sea Turtle´s Hatcheries

Nowadays, the hotels and condominiums that participate actively in the protection of the marine turtles through a nursery (or hatchery) of incubation of eggs are (see the map of Puerto Vallarta): CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort, The Westin Resort & Spa, Vallarta Torre Hotel , The Fiestamericana Hotel, Playas Gemelas Condominiums and the Presidente InterContinental Hotel  (all operated by Unidos para la Conservacion A.C.), as well as the Dreams Hotel (operated particularly), the Velas Vallarta Hotel and the Turtle´s Camp Boca de Tomates (operated by Nuestra Tierra, A.C).

Besides these works, is carried out the rescue, cure and rehabilitation of wounded turtles because of the man, for that which a specialized veterinarian is involved who carries out the necessary surgeries. So far, they have been carried out two operations (amputations) of fins to two turtles that were caught in fishing arts, liberating them successfully.  See last cases.

Would you like to join with us the experience of one night of real beach patrolling& eggs rescue?

Would you like to participate in a turtle´s release?

Would you like to be a VOLUNTEER?

Would you like to be part of a Baby Turtle Release?

Contact us to find out how to participate in this amazing experience!

For more information you can visit the web site of the Program of Protection and Conservation of Marine Turtles in Puerto Vallarta clicking here or send an e-mail to the program.

Turtle experience activities are only available between June and October.
Sea turtle releases are only available between July and November.  

Biologist Oscar Aranda: seaturtlesvta@aim.com