Marine Turtle Conservation

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By Griffin Page
Naturalist ~ Eco-guide
Eons ago, millions of sea turtles roamed our seas but now, their numbers have diminished drastically. They have survived the natural cataclysm that wiped out the dinosaurs and are an extraordinary example of survival and adaptation. They have been around for over 200 million years, but the main reason for their diminishing numbers is: Human over-exploitation of our natural resources. In order for them to continue to swim across our oceans and come nest on our sandy beaches, they need our help, now more than ever.

The ancestors of the marine turtles were much bigger in size than those we see nowadays. The Archelon is an extinct ancestor of the marine turtles. The largest turtle that still exists today is the Leatherback and it is also the only marine turtle that doesn't have a hard shell but rather, an intricate web of bones that form the shape of the shell covered by a tough rubbery skin. It measures 4 to 6 feet long and its weight can average a ton. The largest Leatherback ever recorded measured 10 feet from the tip of its beak to the end of its tail and weighed 2,019 pounds.

The Bay of Banderas, receives mainly Olive Ridley sea turtles which are considered to be one of the smallest of marine turtles species. They measure 2 to 2.5 feet and weigh between 77 and 100 pounds. But occasionally, a Leatherback is seen nesting on the beaches of the Bay of Banderas.

Each year, between the months of June and December, thousands of marine turtles come to nest right here, on the beautiful shores of our Bay. Many turtle camps, big and small, protect these wonderful creatures, their nests, and release the little hatchlings under the right conditions in an effort to boost their numbers. Informative visits to these camps are offered to increase awareness and give the appropriate information regarding what to do and what not to do when encountering a female or a nest in the process of hatching. Threats, incubation periods, life span and many more topics are also discussed. They also invite you to patrol the beach with them in an attempt to encounter a female in the process of laying her eggs and to participate in the release of those fragile hatchlings will watch those beautiful little ones tread their way on the soft sand and start swimming as they reach the water's edge. Anyone who has ever participated will tell you how special this event is!

I have often been asked why hatchlings are not kept until they are big enough before they are released. There are many reasons why this is not the best approach. First, just before breaking out of the egg, the turtle will absorb the yolk and store it in the lower part of its abdomen. This will provide approximately 7 days of food, enough time for it to encounter food in the ocean. Second, Marine turtles are very slow growing, for example, Olive Ridleys attain adult size at around 15 years but will reach sexual maturity before that, between 8 and 12 years of age. Thirdly, from the moment they start crawling out of the nest and make their way to the ocean, they are imprinting (marking) the location of that particular beach in order to return 8 to 12 years later to nest and reproduce. The costs of feeding them for so many years is also a factor as is the quantity of hatchlings produced by a single nest in a turtle camp. The success rate of eggs producing live hatchlings in a camp is much higher than in nature. Between 80% and 95% of the eggs will end in a live birth. The average for the Olive Ridley is 100 eggs per nest. In one camp alone, here in the Bay, between 180,000 to 210,000 babies are released in one season! That makes for a lot of hatchlings to feed.

The diet of marine turtles is varied and depends on the species. As a matter of fact, the Green turtle is the only one that becomes entirely vegetarian after it reaches 8 to 10 inches in size. All other marine turtles are omnivorous. They eat fish and fish eggs, crabs, shrimp, squid, sea grass and jellyfish just to name a few. Garbage can often be confused for food. Plastic bags can easily look like a jelly fish to a turtle and unfortunately, will clog its digestive system. We can all help not littering and by picking up the trash we encounter on beaches and in our oceans. Bright lights on a beach confuse the hatchlings and impedes their migration to the waters edge. Coastal development where walls are built erodes the beaches and reduces the areas where the females come to nest. These are all simple things we can do something about.

Poaching of the eggs (believed to be an aphrodisiac but in fact aren't at all) and of the turtles themselves (for its meat) has not yet been eradicated and hence the need for their protection. Millions of sea turtles worldwide drowned after getting caught in nets. Fortunately, the use of TED's (Turtle Exclusion Devices) in Shrimping nets have greatly diminished the unwanted capture of marine turtles worldwide. Pressure needs to be put upon those countries not enforcing the use of TEDs.

Let's all give these wonderful creatures a helping hand. Visit a turtle camp today and learn about how you can help. Participate in a turtle release project and support a local camp and while doing it, have an unforgettable experience!

"Nature could be such a wonderful teacher if only we saw it for what it really is" ~ Monachí

We, at Natural Treasures, take this opportunity to invite you to witness these wonders with us. We specialize in helping you find the nature activity that suits your needs and desires. Make sure the tour you book is the right one for you. Many options are at your disposal. Let a knowledgeable eco-guide present you with a selection best suited for your needs.