Turtle hatchlings released into the sea at Playa del Carmen

PLAYA DEL CARMEN – The first new turtles to hatch along the Riviera Maya this season have been released into the sea.

Eighty-four hatchlings were released into the sea this week at Playa Xcalacoco in Playa del Carmen. This particular nest was the first time environmental officials have seen eggs take less than the normal 60 days to hatch. They are expecting another batch of baby turtles from a second nearby nest.

Jorge Guillermo Fuentes Manríquez, manager of Petit Lafitte Hotel at Xcalacoco, was the one who reported the nest. He says the expedited hatching was likely caused from the region’s high temperatures. He explained that “if the temperature of the nest is greater than 30 degrees, a majority of the hatchlings will be female. If the temperature is below that, there will be mostly males.”

In regard to the hotel, Manriquez said, “We are working with the UMA La Vereda Xcalacoco (Environmental Management Unit) and the Committee for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles to raise awareness and protect this species”.

The turtles were released by environmental officials as tourists snapped photos. The second batch are expected to hatch in the coming week.

Source: riviera-maya-news.com