20,000 sea turtle nests expected in Quintana Roo in coming weeks

CANCUN, Q.Roo – Coastal areas from Cancun to Tulum are getting ready for this year’s turtle season as more than 20,000 nests are expected, reports riviera-maya-news.com.

Roberto Herrera Pavón, head of El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur), says they are anticipating around 20,000 nests to be laid with each nest averaging 100 eggs.

Despite the abundance of human presence, a variety of sea turtle species arrive each year to bury their eggs along the state’s beaches. A majority of the eggs are laid within the middle of the region where there are the best natural conditions.

Herrera Pavón says, “We already have the first sightings of turtles looking for nesting places in the northern part of the state around Xcacel and Xcacelito, but later this month, we will start seeing them arrive in the Riviera Maya.”

Due to huge conservation efforts, including protected pens and human surveillance, approximately 80 percent of the eggs laid along the region actually hatch.

“In nature 90 percent of the eggs in a nest have a chance to hatch and make their way to the sea, but few survive because the hatchlings have natural predators such as looting birds and attacks from other animals. The hatchlings are a natural part of the food chain. In the pens, about 80 percent of the offspring hatch and are more likely to survive because there is no looting and no threats. “

“Playa de Bahía Príncipe is one of the most important sites for loggerhead nesting and is a beach that sees about 3,000 people making it is risky to leave the nests.”

He says there are 15 turtle camps in the state where there are the placement of volunteers that help monitor and protect the pens.

Turtle nesting season runs May to November in Quintana Roo and includes several species. The arrival of turtles is expected to begin within the next two weeks.

Source: riviera-maya-news.com

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