Save El Salvadorian Sea Turtles

    
My wife Marsha and I started the 4M Turtle Ranch 3 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 the Costa Azul Region 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.  Not only does this poaching drastically reduce the overall total number of sea turtles living today, sea turtles return to the beach they were born to lay eggs, so if no more turtles are born on this stretch of beach, there will eventually no longer be turtles returning to this region. We all know that taking any species out of an ecosystem drastically changes that area and not in a good way. If we don't step in to help preserve this beach as a prime laying and hatching area for these turtles, it could have a major negative impact. We knew we had to do something about it, even though we live 2,000 miles away!


We have a vacation home on that 3 mile stretch of beach. And when we found out that this was happening, we decided to take action. When laying season began, we erected a locked fenced area to protect the eggs from thieves during their incubation period (44 days).  We then started to purchase eggs from poachers.  After we purchase the eggs we bury them in the sand in the fenced in area and wait the 44 days to release them back into the ocean.  To get the eggs from the poachers, we have walked the beach with our caretaker/turtle wrangler Marcos who goes out in the middle of the night, every night during laying season to purchase as many eggs as possible before they are sold for human consumption.  I talked to one of the poachers (turtuelleros), he said he would rather sell them to us but at the end of the day he sells them to whomever he can because he has to feed and support his family.  The eggs are sold by the dozen, ridiculously cheap considering the ecological devastation this causes.  If only they understood what they are doing and had other means of supporting themselves.



Last year was very rewarding and a great success.  By the end of the season we saved over 2,500 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 and the season is just beginning.  To enable us to reach our goal, we are going to need help from others to enable us to increase the number of eggs we can purchase, with a goal of buying them all!  We don’t want to demonize or alienate the Turtuelleros (poachers), this could cause large problems on this small stretch of beach.  Instead, our plan is to convince them to assist us by selling their eggs to us instead of to the middle men who turn around and sell the eggs for human consumption, or to individual buyers who then consume them.                  

We could use all the help we can get. It will take major cultural and political changes to stop the poaching, which could take decades, so if we can get the Turtuelleros to work with us instead of against us, and we can get support from people like you, we can help make a difference now! And who knows, maybe this effort that started as a personal project can even put in process the major changes that would end poaching in this region altogether.  The season runs from now through November.  Releasing the hatchings is an amazing and rewarding experience, National Geographic worthy.

We are asking for modest donations from anyone that wants to be a part of this effort.  Anything helps! All donations go directly to purchasing eggs.

Thanks, 
Mike and Marsha Conte