San Pancho Marine Turtle Project

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure our turtle camp is run scientifically with proper procedures in place to give the turtle nests in the nursery the best chance for survival. Our Marine biologist is constantly training us and we adpat to changing needs as and when required. Here the volunteers are being trained using ping pong balls as dummy eggs so we can understand protocols better using visual aids.

Even our camp Kitty was interested and decided to attend this meeting 😊

Augustine has been helping us for awhile now and finally saw their first turtle and was able to locate their first clutch of eggs 🙌

We are so grateful for all the extra help Auggie gives us with the ATV, data sheet designs, picking up extra shifts, social media (we have a linktree now!), and being an all-around awesome person. 🌊🐢

Thanks, Auggie!



—

We never welcomed Kristen 🌟! She has been an amazing volunteer and has returned to help us after being here 10 years ago. We are so grateful to have her back. She jumped right in, helping with nursery work the same day she flew in✈️! She is pictured here walking Malpaso with Ulises💪.

Our work day and camp cleanup on Saturday paved the way for our first nursery nest of the season! Over 100 beautiful, larger than average Olive Ridley eggs. What a great way to kick off the season. Keep an eye on our socials for announcements about nursery tours, open houses, and public releases. Happy turtle season!

Yesterday we had our weekly meeting over pizza! These meetings are integral to our continued growth and success as a team, allowing us to review the events of the past week and strategise for the upcoming season. A big thank you to Dave and Susie Schmidt for providing the pizzas! 💖🐢

🌊🐢 **Join Us in Protecting San Pancho’s Sea Turtles!** 🐢🌊

Volunteer with us this summer and work hands-on with a team dedicated to sea turtle conservation for almost 33 years. Earn college credits while making a real difference!

Apply now:
https://www.project-tortuga.org/volunteer.html

Our team had an amazing and insightful day taking the Clifton Strengths Assessment, generously donated by Tracy Judge! 🎉 It was a fun and informative workshop where we learned just how awesome we are and how we can help each other be even better. 🌟 🐢💪

We are so grateful and excited for the wood stakes donated by Jane and John Pendleton and Nick Sanders! We have big plans and have been waiting a long time for what we are about to do with them. We can’t wait to share our upcoming project with you. Stay tuned for more updates!

We had a great turtle peeps patrol meeting! Everyone is settling into the nesting season well. We all got tips on the little things that make turtle camp run smoothly. Pictured after the meeting and ready to go are Nick, Odette, and Augustine.

**Join Us for a Community Cleanup!**

Delegación de San Pancho and Comité de Acción Ciudadana invite you to the Arroyo Cleanup this Saturday, June 29th at 8:00 AM. Let’s meet at Ferretería Rodriguez to make our environment cleaner and safer.

If you can’t make it, you can still contribute by cleaning the area in front of your home to prevent litter from reaching our beaches. Together, we can keep our community free of waste.

**Event Details:**
📅 Date: Saturday, June 29th
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM
📍 Location: Ferretería Rodriguez

Let’s make a difference!

🌊 Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest 🌊

Support our sea turtle conservation efforts in San Pancho! Adopt a nest and help protect these incredible creatures.

Your $75.00 USD symbolic adoption includes:

• Printable adoption certificate
• Follow-up email with photo & data
• Satisfaction of helping sea turtles

Important Details:

• Nursery starts mid-July
• Certificates emailed within a week
• Symbolic adoptions; do not touch or harass turtles or nests

Join us in making a difference!

For more info or to adopt, email: [email protected]

Link below to adopt now!
https://www.project-tortuga.org/adopt-a-nest.html

🌊🌿 ¡Únete a nuestra campaña de limpieza! 🌿🌊

📅 Miércoles 26 de junio
🕚 11 am
📍 En EntreAmigos

Necesitamos tu ayuda para pintar carteles y proteger el arroyo, el estero, la playa y el mar. ¡Tu participación es clave! 💪🌍

🌟🌿 Join Us in Protecting Sea Turtles! 🌿🌟

Passionate about marine life? Make a difference with our Sea Turtle Conservation Program! We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to help protect these incredible creatures. Enjoy the beauty of the ocean while contributing to vital conservation efforts. Plus, volunteer housing is available!

Sign up today and be a part of something truly special. Let’s save the sea turtles together! 🌍💙 The link to apply is in our bio.

**Today is the last day of Sea Turtle Week!** 🐢🌅 Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day with us and learn all about these incredible creatures with your loved ones. Join us for an evening of fun activities, including an “Adopt a Nest” raffle in honor of Father’s Day, and enjoy the beautiful sunset at San Pancho.

🗓️ **When:** Today at 7 PM
📍 **Where:** On the beach in front of La Perla
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 **Hosted by:** Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C.

Bring the whole family and help us protect sea turtles while enjoying San Pancho’s beautiful sunset! Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there!

🌊🐢 Happy Sea Turtle Week! 🌊🐢

Today, we celebrate Hawksbill Day, honoring one of the most beautiful and endangered sea turtles. Hawksbill turtles are known for their stunning shells, which sadly makes them a target for illegal trade.

Did you know?
- Hawksbill turtles play a crucial role in maintaining the health of coral reefs.
- Their beautiful shells, often used in jewelry and ornaments, have led to their critically endangered status.
- Conservation efforts are vital to protect these amazing creatures and their habitats.

Join the fight against the tortoise shell trade and help preserve our ocean’s biodiversity.

🌊🐢 Join us for the World Sea Turtle Day Celebration! 🐢🌊

Learn about sea turtles with your loved ones as we wrap up Sea Turtle Week! Come and discover the incredible work we’re doing to protect these majestic creatures and find out how you can help if you encounter a sea turtle on the beach.

Enjoy coloring pages for kids and participate in our “Adopt a Nest” raffle in honor of Father’s Day. This special event will take place just before sunset, offering a perfect chance to enjoy the beautiful view with your family afterwards.

📍 **Location**: On the beach in front of La Perla
🗓️ **Date**: Sunday, 16th at 7 PM
🎉 **Hosted by**: Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C., San Francisco, Nayarit

Don’t miss out on a fun-filled evening of education, activities, and stunning sunset views at San Pancho. Join us and make a difference!

🌊🐢 Happy Olive Ridley Day! 🐢🌊

This , we’re shining a spotlight on the Olive Ridley sea turtle, the species we work with the most on our beautiful beaches here in . These incredible creatures are known for their mass nesting events, called arribadas, where thousands of females come ashore to lay eggs. But did you know that human consumption poses a significant threat to their survival?

Here are some eye-opening facts about the impact of consumption on Olive Ridley sea turtles:

1. Egg Consumption: Olive Ridley eggs are often harvested illegally for consumption and sale. In some cultures, they are considered a delicacy and believed to have aphrodisiac properties.
2. Meat Consumption: Despite protections, the illegal trade in sea turtle meat continues, contributing to population declines. The meat is consumed in various parts of the world, often sold in black markets.
3. Bycatch: Many Olive Ridleys die as bycatch in fishing operations. They get entangled in nets intended for other species, leading to unintentional yet significant loss.
4. Pollution and Habitat Loss: Pollution, especially plastic waste, and coastal development destroy their nesting grounds and feeding areas, making survival even more challenging.
5. Conservation Efforts: Organizations like ours in San Pancho are working tirelessly to protect these magnificent creatures. We patrol beaches, protect nests, and educate the community about the importance of conservation.

✨ Exciting News! Today, we saved a nest that was almost found by poachers! They were digging around the nest area but weren’t able to find the clutch of eggs before we arrived! This is a reminder of how crucial our work is in ensuring the survival of these incredible turtles. 🥚💪

By reducing the demand for turtle products and supporting conservation efforts, we can make a difference. Let’s protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles and ensure they thrive for generations to come!

Join us in celebrating and commit to making a positive impact. Share this post to spread awareness and help us protect these gentle marine giants. 🌍❤️🐢

Today, we celebrate Kemp’s Ridley Day, honoring the incredible Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, the smallest and most endangered of all sea turtle species. These remarkable creatures are known for their unique mass nesting events called “arribadas,” where thousands of females come ashore simultaneously to lay their eggs. Sadly, despite conservation efforts, their populations remain critically endangered.

Kemp’s Ridley Facts:

• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys kempii
• Habitat: Primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico, but they migrate as far as the Atlantic coast.
• Size: Adults typically measure around 2 feet in length and weigh up to 100 pounds.
• Diet: Mainly crabs, but they also eat mollusks, shrimp, and jellyfish.

The Threat of Ocean Pollution:
Our oceans are facing a severe threat from pollution, which has devastating impacts on sea turtles and other marine life. Plastics, chemicals, and other pollutants not only degrade the habitat but also pose direct dangers to these creatures.

Ocean Pollution Facts:

• Plastic Waste: Millions of tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, leading to ingestion that can block their digestive systems and cause death.
• Chemical Pollution: Industrial chemicals, pesticides, and oil spills contaminate the water, harming the health of sea turtles and disrupting their reproductive systems.
• Marine Debris: Fishing gear and other marine debris can entangle sea turtles, causing injuries or drowning.

As we celebrate Kemp’s Ridley Day, let’s commit to reducing ocean pollution and protecting these incredible sea turtles. Simple actions like reducing plastic use, supporting clean-up efforts, and advocating for stronger environmental protections can make a big difference.

Join us in raising awareness and taking action to save Kemp’s Ridley turtles and preserve our oceans for future generations!

🌊🐢 It’s Flat Back Day for ! Did you know that flatback sea turtles are unique to the coastal waters of Australia? These amazing creatures face significant threats from coastal development. 🌏🏝️

🏗️ Coastal development destroys nesting sites, disrupts hatchling navigation with artificial lights, and pollutes their habitats. Protecting our coastlines means protecting these incredible turtles!

📉 Fact: Only about 1 in 1,000 hatchlings make it to adulthood. Let’s give them a fighting chance by advocating for responsible development and conservation efforts.

Join the movement to protect our seas and shorelines!

Happy World Ocean Day! 🌊 Today also marks the first day of Sea Turtle Week! 🐢 Dive into these fun ocean and sea turtle facts:

1. **Largest Ecosystem**: The ocean covers over 70% of our planet’s surface and is home to a vast array of life, including majestic sea turtles.

2. **Deepest Point**: The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest part of the world’s oceans, plunging down about 36,000 feet (11,000 meters).

3. **Oxygen Production**: Oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, thanks to tiny marine plants called phytoplankton.

4. **Sea Turtle Navigation**: Sea turtles can migrate thousands of miles between their feeding grounds and nesting sites, using the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate.

5. **Long Life**: Some sea turtle species can live up to 50 years or more, making them some of the ocean’s longest-living creatures.

Let’s celebrate and protect our oceans and sea turtles today and every day! 🌍🐢

Stay tuned for our special events this Tuesday the 11th and Sunday the 16th!

🌊🐢 Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest for Dad! 🐢🌊

This Father’s Day, give a unique gift that makes a difference. For just $75 USD, your symbolic adoption includes:

✨ A personalized adoption certificate (via email)
✨ A follow-up email when his nest hatches, featuring a photo of his personalized sea turtle badge with his name, photos of his hatchlings, and his nest’s evaluation data
✨ The satisfaction of helping to save San Pancho’s sea turtles

Celebrate Dad and contribute to conservation efforts! 🌟💚

🔗Link to adopt now or learn morore about the program👇

https://www.project-tortuga.org/adopt-a-nest.html

🌊🌴 Today, our beach patrol was a mix of emotions. While combing the shore for turtle nests, we pick up garbage, helping to keep our coastline clean and safe for our marine friends. 🐢 Unfortunately, last night was a tough one for our turtles. We were thrilled to find two new nests safe and secure, but heartbroken to discover that two were poached. 😢

Every piece of trash we collect and every nest we protect is a step toward a better future for these incredible creatures. Let’s all do our part to keep our beaches clean and our turtles safe. 🌅

🌊🐢 Exciting news! We found our first sea turtle nest of the season! Huge thanks to Ulises for the discovery. Despite an active poacher on the beach, he didn’t get this one. We’ve identified him and had a talk, hoping it slows him down. This is why our conservation work is crucial 💪!

Just wrapped up our turtle beach patrol training yesterday! 🐢🏖️ The season starts today, and we’re all set to go. The team kicks off with Karen, Hallie, Ulises, Trish, Odette, Nick (not pictured), myself, and our newest volunteer—welcome aboard, Ashley! Let’s protect these amazing creatures together! 🌊🌿

This Saturday at 8am, join us for round 2 of riverbed cleaning to keep garbage out of our oceans! Let’s meet at the Rainbow Bridge and make a difference together. Your help is crucial! 🌊🌍♻️

Our new shirts have made it all the way to Hawaii! 🌺 Huge thanks to Rosanne for supporting our conservation program with both shirt purchases and a nest adoption! Your support helps us protect sea turtles and their habitat.

Happy ! 🐢 Let’s celebrate these incredible creatures and raise awareness about their conservation. From the majestic sea turtles gliding through the oceans to the steadfast tortoises roaming the land, every turtle plays a vital role in our ecosystem. Protect their habitats, reduce plastic use, and support conservation efforts to ensure these ancient beings thrive for generations to come. 🌍💚

If you want to help us, get involved and volunteer! Follow the link to apply.

https://www.project-tortuga.org/volunteer.html