© Camille Baile

A total of 164 hatchlings started their journey across the oceans. In case any of these hatchlings survive and if they are females, they will return to this same beach to nest, approximately in 25 to 30 more years.

Unfortunately the statistics are not very favorable for the conservation of this and other species of sea turtles, of which only 1 in 1000 will reach maturity. The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is sadly famous, because it is the most endangered species of sea turtle in the world.

The Olive Ridley turtle is in danger of extinction due to various factors, some natural, such as predators, but there are other external factors, of which the human being is responsible, such as the commercialization of eggs and turtle meat, and all the pollution. All the garbage that we generate every day, especially the plastic, come in one form or another to the oceans, directly affecting not only the sea turtles but all the species that live in the sea.

©Lainneker Sanchez

We invite you to help in the conservation of the Kemp’s ridley turtle and prevent it from passing to the sad list of extinct animals; to participate actively in cleanings of beaches and rivers that are organized in the different areas; to eliminate or reduce the use of plastic; to recycle; to denounce the illegal sale of turtle eggs, etc. Every effort, however small it may seem, counts!

© Camille Baile

Very early the morning of the 22nd of June, after returning from a crocodile monitoring, members of the Reserva Playa Tortuga observed turtle tracks on the beach and found a nest with 91 eggs. This is the first official nest of the 2018 season.

Playa Tortuga is a nesting beach for sea turtles Lora or English Olive Ridley, although there are reports of green turtles and leatherback turtles that nest here as well.

The nesting season normally extends from June to January, having its peak in the month of October. During these months the beach is patrolled intensively every night in a period of 8 hours, covering on average a distance of 12 km, from 18:00 to 5:00 every day, in order to observe and mark the females that arrive at Playa Tortuga.

© Graciela Pulido

Reserva Playa Tortuga accepts volunteers and interns, who can participate in this project as well as others (monitoring of crocodiles, birds, mammals, etc.) and you can contact us at rptojochal@gmail.com