Off Like a Herd of Turtles

On this day, a pleasant walk on a beach about 30 kilometers north of Zihuatanejo called Troncones, became an event that I will always remember.
Sea turtles are becoming extinct.  The Mexican Government has a program to educate people and to incubate eggs and release the new born turtles.  
When a turtle lays eggs on the beach, usually at night, a conservationist will be called and they dig up the eggs and move them.  Most beaches near us have an area for turtle eggs that is fenced and covered.

Turtle hatching area with contact information

turtle egg incubation are

A hole is dug in the sand, the eggs are buried and marked.  Each marker contains the date and the number of eggs

markers showing where eggs are in the incubation area

Sept. 28, 2011 - 84 eggs

Nov. 4 , 2011 - 119 eggs

We are delighted to find out that a turtle release will be happening when the sun goes down in about 45 minutes.  The 45 minutes goes quickly as there is a spectacular sunset.

The baby turtles (hatchlings) hatch beneath the sand and remain there for about a day while they consume the egg yoke which is attached to an umbilical cord.  They have a hard point at the top of their mouth, called a beak, to help them dig.  This beak will gradually disappear.
The baby turtle are put into plastic tubs to be taken at sunset to the shore.

A class of students arrive and it is such fun to see their excitement.  This is a great program and the release tonight will be something that everyone will always remember. The kids seem to be well schooled on what they are to do.  They move the turtles to a couple of tubs.

The ground is given a final check for hatched turtles.

As the tubs are carried and dropped about 20 feet from the shore, the full moon begins to rise.

Here at Troncones there are many sea birds so the hatchlings are released at night when the seabirds have less chance of eating them.  It is very dark out and we are not aloud to take flash photos as it will disorient the turtles.  There are about 400 hatchlings to be released so everyone gets many turns placing the babies on the sand within reach of the wave action.  There are about 30  people helping and the amout of excitement is great.  People cheer on the turtles as they go across the beach towards the water.  If one needs to be turned over or needs help he gets it. When a wave comes farther up the shore and takes a lot of babies into the ocean people cheer.  This is one of the most moving and greatest things that I have ever done.

helpers

the girl on the right was the best helper.....her dress was clean when she started

The chance of survival for any of the turtles is very slim.  The ones that make it out to sea will return to this beach in about ten years when they are the size of a dinner plate.  In that ten years, no one really knows where they go or how they survive.
It is hard to believe that the tire sized turtles that we have seen floating on top of the water during deep sea fishing started life this way.