One hundred and seventeen little tortuguitas raced to the dangers of the deep blue ocean during the past month. These baby sea turtles hatched from the first two nests collected this year, and there are two more nests of about 100 eggs each currently incubating happily in the new hatchery. There, they are protected from the crabs, dogs, birds, humans and other predators that are a great risk to these precious lives. The Olive Ridley sea turtle, the predominant species that nests here on playa Barqueta, is in danger of extinction, mostly because of human activities such as poaching and environmental contamination. Volunteers walk (or run) the beach every morning during the rainy nesting season in order to search for recently laid nests that if found are moved to the hatchery to give the little guys a greater chance of survival. It has been estimated that out of every 1,000 sea turtle eggs laid, only one will survive the 15 - 20 years it takes to reach reproductive age. Pobrecitos.
This year our team of conservation volunteers is focusing on refining several processes. First, we hope to keep detailed records of each nest collected, including the amount of time the eggs spend developing before the first turtle pokes its little head through the surface of the sand. This will help us to better coordinate the sea turtle "releases" that are an important part of the educational process. Also, we hope to better organize and develop the ecotourism activities that surround the sea turtles, by advertising more expansively, providing more attractions at the beach, and coordinating with other local interest groups.
In order to expand upon the attractions at the beach while keeping the project educational and sustainable, we are seeking funds for various projects:
1. Posting an educational sign near the hatchery that gives basic information about sea turtles and gives an summary of the conservation activities at Barqueta beach.
2. Developing reproducable posters and educational pamphlets to show during lectures on the beach during the releases and to distrubute to local schools.
3. Making a short documentary about the sea turtle conservation process and playing this video and others pertaining to sea turtle conservation in a designated area near the hatchery in order to educate tourists as well as the general public.
4. Developing and marketing merchandise such as T-shirts and hats with images of sea turtles to sell, with proceeds going towards the project's long-term goals, thus keeping the project sustainable by having a running source of income.
5. Hatchery maintenence and expansion.
YOU CAN HELP!
Follow the link above to contribute to our project! Get involved and we'll keep you updated with photos, news on successful releases, etc. Plus it's a tax-deductable donation. Scroll down to "Panama" and click on the project under my name (the link isn't up yet but should be within the next couple of days). The turtles will thank you :).
