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La Manzanilla Sea Turtle Sanctuary

Posted by Nansee New on March 7, 2009, 12:54 pm
189.162.132.159

La Manzanilla Sea Turtle Sanctuary Project

The La Manzanilla sea turtle sanctuary project is maintained by the Delegacion by volunteer effort from the community with no funding. Turtle eggs are collected along the beach in the morning, placed in the sanctuary (a fenced area on the beach) and kept there until the baby turtles hatch 45 days later. Up to 100 eggs can be found in a single nest. When the baby turtles hatch (usually at night) they are collected the following morning, and held in a tank in sand under a shade structure until just before dark when they are released.

Current needs at the turtle sanctuary are:

Education of the local and part-time residents about turtle protection and care. Of the four species found here, 2 are endangered. Lack of information on the sea turtle and more local interest in stewarding these fragile beings is needed all year round, especially in the height of the nesting season between July and December.
Year round volunteers could support the understaffed program and assure regular collection and release of baby turtles in a timely fashion. A full-time bi-lingual volunteer coordinator could help raise funds for maintaining the sanctuary, and organize others on the team to help with egg collection, protection, and turtle release while working with the Delegacion. This kind of support could help recover the dwindling populations of local sea turtles and mark the beginning of a long term program which could become a tourist attraction and money-maker for the pueblo.

If you care to become part of a crew who supports the turtle program with your labor and time please speak to Nansee New 351-7029, or email.

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