Tag:
Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Conservation
Rare Sea Turtle Nest Discovered Near Downtown San Pedro
On Wednesday night, July 23rd, residents just north of San Pedro Town reported the sighting of baby sea turtles on the beach. Approximately 139 hatchlings had emerged but appeared disoriented. The ACES Wildlife Rescue team was first contacted and, in turn, reached out to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which oversees a sea turtle conservation program. Under Hol Chan’s guidance, the hatchlings were rescued. They are now in the care of the Reserve and will be safely released into the sea in the coming days.
Conservation
562 baby sea turtles hatch in northern Ambergris Caye this season
In Ambergris Caye, the sea turtle season begins in April and lasts through November. Sea turtles hatch year-round, but their peak is during the summer. As of July 31st, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) turtle monitoring team has discovered 31 nests, of which 11 had to be excavated, resulting in eight successfully hatched and three spoiled. 416 hatchlings, including 81 green and 271 loggerhead turtles, returned to the sea.
Environment
Hol Chan Marine Reserve begins monitoring seasonal sea turtle nesting sites
The sea turtle monitoring program at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve has begun and will continue until November. They anticipate egg clutches will appear on the beach this time of the year, as last year, the first turtle nest of the season was discovered on April 18, 2023. Due to that factor, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve team is now actively monitoring the island's northern beaches weekly to search for turtle nests or any activity. They have also started removing debris and cleaning up by picking up garbage and driftwood that could obstruct the turtles' path in known nesting areas.
Conservation
Sea turtle nesting in northern Ambergris Caye continues under threat from human activity
Over the past weeks, more sea turtle nests have been spotted on the beaches of northern Ambergris Caye. The nesting season, which lasts through November, primarily covers an area from Punta Azul to Robles Beach and the Rocky Point area. Every year a crew from the Hol Chan Marine Reserve monitors and records the nesting period and the challenges affecting the season. This includes human activity such as increased and careless vehicular traffic and improper disposal of garbage. Recently, residents have discovered destroyed turtle nests and eggs on the beach.