Saving Sea Turtles is a Major Attraction in Puerto Vallarta

This time of year in Puerto Vallarta one of the main attractions can fit in the palm of your hand: baby sea turtles, recently hatched. On most evenings from July to December several of the major hotels hold "liberation" ceremonies on their beaches, where visitors can release recently-hatched sea turtles into the sea.

Turtle releases are held at dusk, when artificial lighting-which disorients the turtles and makes them head in the wrong direction-is at a minimum. Each volunteer is given a baby turtle, and on a signal from the program leader, all the turtles are released at once.

The turtle release ceremonies are just part of community-wide efforts in Puerto Vallarta to preserve sea turtles and other protected local wildlife. The city's beaches are a major breeding ground for several species of endangered sea turtles. Since the eggs are not safe on these beaches-beach volleyball and other recreational activities aren't conducive to egg incubation-the eggs are found and transferred to incubation facilities elsewhere. But once hatched, baby turtles must be released where their eggs were laid, hence the turtle release programs.

The Puerto Vallarta Sea Turtle Protection Project is a joint venture between the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Association and Mexico federal and local government.

Thanks to the Puerto Vallarta release program, say hotel officials, over 90% of sea turtle eggs are now successfully incubated. Before the program began, only about 40% of eggs ever hatched.

Hatching and surviving, however, are two separate things. Every visitor taking part in the release program no doubt hopes that his or her "baby" will swim successfully out to sea. But-as we all know from nature programs-only a fraction survives to carry on the species. Mother Nature is a tough cookie.

Nonetheless, these programs give the turtles more than a fighting chance.

Best Regards,

Suzan Haskins
Editor, Mexico Insider
International Living

P.S. Sea turtle releases aren't the only events going on in Puerto Vallarta next month…