Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Population in Peril
Since it takes many years for sea turtles to mature and reproduce, their populations
are quite vulnerable to environmental hazards such as pollution and poaching. Thus,
conservation efforts are crucial to their survival - these efforts include guarding
hatchlings from predators and providing incentives for local communities to protect
turtles and their eggs. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful along the Caribbean coast,
with tasks ranging from beach patrols, data collection and tagging to removing eggs
to hatcheries and hatchling release.
Planning a Tour
Because of the sensitive habitat and critically endangered status of some species,
turtle-nesting tours are highly regulated. Groups must be accompanied by licensed
guides, who ensure that the turtles are able to lay their eggs in peace and that other
nests are left undisturbed. Nesting season runs from March to October, with July and
August being the most active period for green turtles. April is another good month,
when leatherback turtles arrive.
Depending on when you visit, you may find yourself watching a newly arrived
mother hauling herself onto the beach, laboriously digging a nest with her flippers
and hatching dozens of ping pong ball-sized eggs or a parade of new hatchlings on
their slow, determined and endearingly clumsy crawl back to the sea.
2710-7703, 2798-2220;
www.parisminaturtles.org
;
2-4pm Mar-Oct)
in Parismina, and by
licensed guides in Tortuguero village.
