La Tortuga Feliz Campamento, Guerrero Mexico.

La Tortuga Feliz Campamento, Guerrero Mexico.

 

Costa Grande is an environmentally significant region located in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Known for its little-explored territory and extensive flora and fauna, it makes up 325 km of Guerrero's approximately 500 km coastline. This area is significant to the reproduction and survival of several turtle species. 

 

Each year, thousands of turtle species, including Pacific or Olive Ridley (Golfina), Green (Negra) and Leatherback (Laud) lay their eggs along Costa Grande.

 

Poaching, commercial fishing practices, degradation of local habitats, and predators are all threats that put many of these species on the endangered or vulnerable species list, greatly relying on conservation efforts for survival.

 

Brothers, Freddie and Baltazar de la Cruz, of Juluchuca, Guerrero, Mexico work tirelessly at La Tortuga Feliz Campamento to rescue and ensure the survival of local sea turtle populations. Often working through the night (to beat poachers and predators to the nests), Freddie and Baltazar pour their heart and soul into the mission of La Tortuga Feliz Campamento, selflessly dedicating over 20 years of their lives to the preservation and survival of these sea turtle populations.

 

When Freddie was recently asked what will happen when he cannot afford to continue operating, with tear-filled eyes, he stated “it pains my heart to think what is going to happen when I am no longer able to do this work”.

 

Over the months of October to March, nests are relocated to the enclosed La Tortuga Feliz Campamento sanctuary daily and hatchlings and baby turtles are released 45 - 60 days after the eggs are laid. None of this is possible without significant volunteer time commitment, labor and funding.

 

When the camp was originally founded over a decade ago, a team of 20 volunteers joined the project and received training and a small amount of financial support from SEMARNAT, Mexico's Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources. Now, years on, only Freddie, Baltazar and two other volunteers remain with no government funding. They rely purely on donations from tourists which have been extremely limited over the last 18 months.

 

Once-off supplies needed

- ATV (The volunteers ATV is close to breaking point. Without a vehicle, the turtle eggs cannot be rescued from the expansive coastline)

- New mesh enclosure lining to keep predators out of the sanctuary

 

Ongoing supplies needed

Please give what you can. Every dollar makes a difference to the survival of the turtle populations along Costa Grande of Guerrero!

 

THANK YOU.

Images courtesy of Sinuhe Xavier https://www.sinuhexavier.com/ .