Sea Turtle Conservation & Environmental Education

Sea turtle project situation

The sea turtle nesting site in Punta Mala Playa Hermosa is probably one of the most threatened we have ever visited. 90% of all the nests were being destroyed by poaching, overpopulation of raccoons and coatis, and increasingly severe tides. In addition, nesting grounds are disappearing as ocean levels keep rising and stormy rains overflow river mouths and change the courses of riverbeds.  

The panorama was frightening. The tides washed off eggs, and nests were dug out by raccoons and by scavengers such as vultures and crabs. Predators beheaded baby sea turtles right in the nests, and many died in their attempt to make it to the beach. So we saw the urgent need to help defend these nests at once. 

Nevertheless, as we began coordinating the project for 2022, these challenges largely centered on the administration. We had several meetings on the project concerning the relationship with the park rangers, the repairs needed in the station, and several other requests from the administration; we had agreed to everything we could, as we knew the importance of protecting this nesting population. But unfortunately, the administration's attitude became hostile and inflexible. 

Later, we received an e-mail from the administrator saying he would find somebody else to help with the sea turtle conservation program. We were very sad about this decision, but we were grateful that another organization would protect the turtles. Unfortunately, this stopped our work for the season. 

Later the administrator of the reserve was removed, and the authorities asked us to return to the area. We are still in the process of negotiating to work in the area for 2023. We held a very positive meeting on July 26th to see how the project's next steps could unfold. They want us back as soon as possible. 

We are limited because we don't have any volunteers lined up or haven't recruited a coordinator. But we do everything in our power to get started as soon as possible.