The National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) reported the arrival of 291,088 olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the Playa Morro Ayuta Sanctuary in Oaxaca.
The Regional Directorate of the Southern Border, Isthmus and South Pacific of Conanp specified that these data correspond to the count of five arrivals to the Protected Natural Area (ANP), between August and the first week of November 2024, which has favored the hatching of one million 682 thousand 820 hatchlings that have entered the Mexican Pacific.
“The beach of this ANP is considered the second most important in Mexico for the arrival of olive ridley turtles, which consists of the synchronous entry and exit of hundreds or thousands of females to nest in a well-defined space. This phenomenon occurs in at least 12 beaches in the world,” Conanp highlighted.
Of the five arrivals, the one that stands out is the one that occurred between September 10 and 14, in which 32,400 turtles and the birth of 972,000 hatchlings were reported. Currently, the fifth arrival is taking place, in which more than 77,000 turtles have been counted on four kilometers of beach.
“This Sanctuary is part of the 20 ANP decreed in January 2024, it has an area of 90 hectares and is located in San Pedro Huamelula and Santiago Astata, in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, 50 kilometers from the Huatulco Bays and 93 kilometers from the Port of Salina Cruz.”
At this site, Conanp works hand in hand with 31 community monitors from Tapanalá, Río Seco and Paja Blanca, through the Program for the Protection and Restoration of Priority Ecosystems and Species 2024, who monitor the arrivals, mark and check the nests for counting and rescuing hatchlings, among other actions. In addition, they carry out environmental education campaigns, beach cleaning and main accesses to the Sanctuary.
“With these actions, the marine and terrestrial conditions of Morro Ayuta are favored so that sea turtles find food and clean water, can move without problems from the sea to the beach, can build their nests, spawn and complete their reproductive process.”
Likewise, Conanp highlighted that an inter-institutional group has been formed for the protection and surveillance of the arribadas, with technical personnel from Conanp, inspectors from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), as well as the Secretariat of the Mexican Navy (Semar) and the National Guard (GN).
In addition, it highlighted that, together with the communities, it preserves one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the world.
“The conservation efforts of sea turtles on the beaches of Oaxaca and the country are fundamental for their conservation and recovery, since Mexico belongs to the Inter-American Convention for the Conservation of Sea Turtles.”
The commission highlighted that pollution generated by humans seriously threatens sea turtles and their habitats.
“To protect these species, it is essential to reduce pollution in its different forms, promote the conservation of their natural habitats and raise awareness about the importance of protecting the oceans and coasts.”
Source: milenio
