Sea Turtle Rescue
Donation protected
Sea Turtle Rescue
4M Turtle Ranch was created to save the critically endangered sea turtles of El Salvador.
2020 Update: Last year we saved raised $6,000 and saved 26,000 sea turtle eggs from being consumed by humans. We hope to increase that number this year.
2019 Update: Thank you all, last year our goal was 5,000 eggs and we rescued 26,000. Hoping for more this year!
My wife Marsha and I started the 4M Turtle Ranch 4 years ago to help save the critically endangered sea turtles of El Salvador. It is something that we thought had to happen before the turtles disappeared from Costa Azul forever. This 3 mile stretch of beach is critical to the survival of the species. When we found out that every turtle that lays her eggs on that beach has them stolen and sold for human consumption it made us sick. The eggs are sold by the dozen, ridiculously cheap considering the ecological devastation this causes. If only they understood what they are doing. Even though we live 2,000 miles away, we have a house on that 3 mile stretch of beach. So we decided we had to do something to help save these turtles.
On the beach, right in front of our house, we erected a locked fenced area to protect the eggs from thieves during their incubation period (44 days). We walk the beach with our caretaker/turtle wrangler Marcos in the middle of the night purchasing as many eggs as possible before they are sold for human consumption. We then bury them in the sand in the fenced in area and wait the 44 days to release them back into the ocean. Releasing the hatchings is an amazing and rewarding experience, National Geographic worthy. I talked to one of the poachers (Turtuelleros) and he said he would rather sell them to us but at the end of the day he sells them to whomever he can. We don’t want to demonize or alienate the Turtuelleros as that could cause problems in the area. Our plan is to convince them that they can still help support their families by selling their eggs to us instead of to the restaurants or markets and also assist us in saving the turtles at the same time.
Last year was very rewarding and also a great success. By the time the season ended we saved over 26,000 hatchlings from certain death. This year we expanded tremendously constructing a new larger pen. Our goal is to rescue all the eggs that are laid on that beach. We are off to an outstanding start, already exceeding last year’s count at this time and the season is just beginning.
To enable us to increase our efforts yearly, we need support from others to purchase as many eggs as possible. The season runs from now through November and we are hoping you can help us raise funds to save these turtles.
We are asking for modest donations from anyone that wants to be a part of this rescue effort. Anything helps and all donations go directly to purchasing eggs.
Regards,
Marsha & Mike Conte
4M Turtle Ranch was created to save the critically endangered sea turtles of El Salvador.
2020 Update: Last year we saved raised $6,000 and saved 26,000 sea turtle eggs from being consumed by humans. We hope to increase that number this year.
2019 Update: Thank you all, last year our goal was 5,000 eggs and we rescued 26,000. Hoping for more this year!
My wife Marsha and I started the 4M Turtle Ranch 4 years ago to help save the critically endangered sea turtles of El Salvador. It is something that we thought had to happen before the turtles disappeared from Costa Azul forever. This 3 mile stretch of beach is critical to the survival of the species. When we found out that every turtle that lays her eggs on that beach has them stolen and sold for human consumption it made us sick. The eggs are sold by the dozen, ridiculously cheap considering the ecological devastation this causes. If only they understood what they are doing. Even though we live 2,000 miles away, we have a house on that 3 mile stretch of beach. So we decided we had to do something to help save these turtles.
On the beach, right in front of our house, we erected a locked fenced area to protect the eggs from thieves during their incubation period (44 days). We walk the beach with our caretaker/turtle wrangler Marcos in the middle of the night purchasing as many eggs as possible before they are sold for human consumption. We then bury them in the sand in the fenced in area and wait the 44 days to release them back into the ocean. Releasing the hatchings is an amazing and rewarding experience, National Geographic worthy. I talked to one of the poachers (Turtuelleros) and he said he would rather sell them to us but at the end of the day he sells them to whomever he can. We don’t want to demonize or alienate the Turtuelleros as that could cause problems in the area. Our plan is to convince them that they can still help support their families by selling their eggs to us instead of to the restaurants or markets and also assist us in saving the turtles at the same time.
Last year was very rewarding and also a great success. By the time the season ended we saved over 26,000 hatchlings from certain death. This year we expanded tremendously constructing a new larger pen. Our goal is to rescue all the eggs that are laid on that beach. We are off to an outstanding start, already exceeding last year’s count at this time and the season is just beginning.
To enable us to increase our efforts yearly, we need support from others to purchase as many eggs as possible. The season runs from now through November and we are hoping you can help us raise funds to save these turtles.
We are asking for modest donations from anyone that wants to be a part of this rescue effort. Anything helps and all donations go directly to purchasing eggs.
Regards,
Marsha & Mike Conte
Co-organizers (2)
Michael Conte
Organizer
Simi Valley, CA
Michael and Marsha Conte
Beneficiary
Jennifer CONTE
Co-organizer