Tuesday, January 10, 2017

January 10, 2017. Paradise Village, Mexico. Releasing Turtles.

Our five went along the beach to be a part of releasing turtles.  A volunteer group has been successful in tending the turtle eggs until such time as they hatch.  They then return the baby turtles to the same place on the beach and release them so they can scurry down to the water, making sure the birds do not eat them.  The leaders of the group gave a short talk giving their story of success.  When they began their work, they released five hundred turtles.  Now they release ten thousand each season.

The baby turtles can fit on the palm of your hand.  Watching them racing  down to the water was exciting they all said.   The waves kept pushing them back to the beach, but they kept trying and eventually they made it into the deep water.  The volunteers help because the turtles are attracted to the light of the moon shining on the water but because there is such heavy development along the beach the turtles get confused and head to the lights along the road.  Then they die.  This program has been in place for 14 years.   Alana, Katy, Brock, Ken and Wendy all think highly of their efforts and  enjoyed their presentation.  Hats off to the volunteers.

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