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2024-07-08 13:31:35

Cayo Largo del Sur: A new Beginning for Sea Turtles

Cayo Largo del Sur is known as one of the best beach destinations in the Caribbean. It has become one of the most important shelters for sea turtles. A well-designed Sea Turtle Rescue Center with ideal condition and impressive work and dedication of its personnel for the protection, rehabilitation, and preservation of those species identified as vulnerable or endangered. The species most commonly found on Cayo Largo's beaches are: The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta), the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata), and the Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas).  

 This project is essentially aimed at increasing the survival rate of sea turtles from egg-laying to the release of newborns into the sea. The turtle center with the support of several volunteers from around the world help to move several dozens of nests (thousands of eggs) each year from unstable beaches that make them vulnerable. Their primary mission is to increase the number of hatching and the survival rate of newborns.

Every year, from April to September (nesting season), the beaches of Cayo Largo become shelter for hundreds of sea turtles. Usually during the night (22:00 to 06:00), females climb to lay their eggs on deserted beaches and also nearby the Hotel areas. They dig nests in which they lay their eggs (about 100-120), bury them and then return to the sea.

The eggs are brought to the nesting area at the Turtle Center where they are re-buried, identified and dated. After the incubation period of about 60 days, the hatchlings come out of the egg and emerge together from the nest. The baby turtles are then transferred to tanks where they will be temporarily kept and fed until they are strong enough to stand a better chance of survival when they are released into the sea.

The release of baby turtles is done on a safe and the widest possible beach. It's important for newborns to remember their environment in order to be able to find their way back in the decades to come, because the females faithfully return to lay on the beach where they were born. Babies must crawl alone over several meters to develop their muscles and memories. The release of baby turtles is an activity to which tourists are regularly invited to take part of. It's an unforgettable experience to gently drop these little creatures on the sand and watch them rushing towards the sea and start swimming.

Cayo Largo del Sur is a safe place for many populations of sea turtles. Protecting them from pollution, over-exploitation, climate change, coastal development, and fishing activities. With a professional treatment and continuous dedication to the conservation of species, the Sea Turtle Rescue Center encourages all join this beautiful and useful adventure.

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