Rafael Chacon, Cozumel’s Director of Ecology and the Environment, is reporting there have been 3,227 turtle nests identified in the windward-side beach area between Rasta’s and Mezcalitos. The Ecology department and their volunteers are still patrolling the area, and are reporting between 7 – 15 nesting turtles a night. Anyone can volunteer to assist these sea creatures as they come ashore to nest. A $55 usd donation and previous reservations are required.
Some of the very first nests have now started hatching, and volunteers are releasing the young turtles back into the sea. Starting August 15th, the turtle trailer will be staffed and prepped for the second stage of turtle season: Search and Rescue. The program is slightly different, with orientation starting mid-afternoon. Volunteers will revise marked nests in search of hatchlings who haven’t made it out of the nest yet so that they too, can make it to the sea. The orientation fee for this phase is only $25 usd, and is open to anyone between the ages of 4 – 70 years old.
Either contact, Cozumel Turtles on facebook,
www.facebook.com/CozumelTurtles, or visit the Municipal Department of Ecology, located at the Cenote Park on Av. 65, just south of Moby Dick.
Also, every Saturday, starting at 8 am, volunteers are still leaving from the Ecology offices for a weekly beach-clean up. Again, anyone is welcome to join.
