Jesús A. Loc-Barragán

My name is Jesús Alberto Loc-Barragán. As a wildlife biologist and researcher, I have dedicated my career to studying the unique biodiversity of Western Mexico (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jesus-Loc-Barragan-2?ev=hdr_xprf). In 2020, I had the profound professional honor of formally describing the Cora Mud Turtle (Kinosternon cora) to the scientific community. Its local name, "Chacuanita," translates to "Treasure of the Cora people"—a name that reflects its immense value to our natural heritage. Alongside its sister species, the Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti), these animals represent the smallest mud turtles on the planet, an evolutionary marvel now facing an invisible extinction. Despite their recent discovery, these turtles are in the midst of a biological emergency. They are micro-endemic species, existing only in a few small seasonal ponds that are rapidly disappearing. My research reveals a heartbreaking reality: urban expansion and agricultural growth are destroying their only homes. Furthermore, their unique size has made them a prime target for the illegal wildlife trade, with hundreds of individuals recently seized from international traffickers. We are witnessing a race against time to save a species that has only just been introduced to the world. I am launching this personal-professional initiative because time is a luxury these turtles do not have. In Mexico, current national environmental policies and funding structures are failing to address the urgent needs of micro-endemic species. Traditional government conservation cycles are often too slow or bureaucratic to provide the immediate protection required. I firmly believe that the only way to ensure their survival is to bypass these institutional delays and act now. We cannot wait for administrative shifts while the last remaining populations—estimated at fewer than 150 wild individuals—vanish forever. My goal is to secure critical habitats and establish private sanctuaries: safe havens that remain independent of shifting internal policies and bureaucratic neglect. Because internal opportunities within Mexico are currently insufficient to meet the scale of this crisis, international support is our only viable path forward. This is a moral and professional commitment to a lineage I helped reveal. By supporting this campaign, you are partnering directly with the primary researcher to implement science-driven action where it matters most: in the field. How your contribution will be invested: Our goal of €110,000 ($118,000 USD) will be allocated with absolute scientific rigor: 60% - Habitat Acquisition: Purchase of strategic land containing the last known ponds to ensure they are never drained or paved over. 20% - Sanctuary Infrastructure: Fencing, monitoring stations, and protection against poachers. 15% - Scientific Operations & Rescue: Intensive field monitoring and rescue of individuals from illegal trafficking for reintroduction. 5% - Community Integration: Educational programs to turn local communities into active guardians of the "Chacuanita."