| More than 32,000 Sea Turtles to Be Released at Casamagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort in 2006 |
Provided By Ambito |
For more than five years, Marina Turtle Protection Program is an educative tradition that is part of the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta’s “Spirit to Serve” philosophy. This labor of love not only unites the young and old, tourists and locals of Puerto Vallarta, but it also brings together national and foreign universities as well as various ecological organizations and associations.
 The resort works in coordination with and under biologist Oscar Aranda as well as the National Institute of Ecology and the Municipal Department of Ecology. The CasaMagna Marriott actively participates in the fight for the conservation of the “Golfina sea turtle” (lepidochelys olivacea), complying with all the procedures and requirements established by the authorities. The resort would like to create a social conscience in all its visitors and local community about the importance of the conservation of this species.
The resort’s work coincides with the sea turtle season which begins in June and continues through December as sea turtles breach the water to come upon shore and lay their eggs. However, the daily activities of a beach resort are hardly a safe place for a turtle nest. Therefore, under the supervision of our biologist, the resort staff patrols the beaches to gather turtle eggs. The eggs are then transported to the sea turtle nursery for incubation while still in their nests to best conserve natural conditions.
Approximately 45 days after the sea turtles lay their eggs; the hatchings emerge from the sand and are ready to be released on the beach, with the aid of the recreational staff and the public. Tradition holds that the children name their baby sea turtle, wish them luck, and set them free to find their way to the water. Since the baby turtles face threats to their survival from land predators, they are released at night. Baby sea turtles releases are held every night at 7:30 pm at the Marriott beach.
All the data is not yet in for this year, but recent estimates show that in the first four months, around 460 nests have been collected. If the hatch percentage remains at 85%, then 32,000 baby sea turtles will be released in 2006 with another three months still to go in the season.
An interesting fact: sea turtles return to the same beach where they are born to lay their own eggs, once the turtles are 10 years-old, every sea turtle that can reach maturity, van return to safe haven to lay more eggs, thereby, ensuring many generations to come.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
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