The state of Oaxaca is the home of nesting beaches for several of the world's species of turtle. Most of the world's turtles are endangered. They have been hunted for their meat, eggs and shells for hundreds of years and until recently were on the brink of extinction. Worldwide conservation efforts are helping but turtles are still in danger. Turtles usually lay their eggs on the beach where they were born, sometimes traveling many miles to return. They come ashore at night, dig a hole and deposit up to 200 eggs into it. The hole is then covered and the mother turtle returns to the sea. Six to ten weeks later the baby turtles hatch, digging their way out of the sand and beginning their dangerous journey to the ocean. Obstacles along the way include man, birds, animals and disorientation from man-made light sources. Just east of Puerto Escondido on the Pacific Coast lies one of the world's main nesting grounds for the olive ridley turtle. The olive ridley is the only non-endangered turtle in the world and between May and January, approximately 700,000 turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. In order to assure the turtles' survival, armed guards patrol the beach and no tourists are allowed. Two beaches in Oaxaca support nests for the rare leatherback turtle. The leatherback is the largest sea turtle and can grow up to 9 ft. long and live 80 years. It nests on Playa Mermejita and Barra de la Cruz in the most southern portion of the state. Despite international conservation efforts, turtles around the world continue to be killed for their shells, meat and eggs. Fishing boats also kill many by accidentally trapping them in their nets and drowning them. Killing sea turtles was officially banned in Mexico in 1990, however illegal hunting still takes place. Because of the on-going problem, the National Mexican Turtle Center in Mazunte was established in 1991. This community was chosen for the Center because it used to be a turtle slaughter ground. The government believed that if it could educate the local people about the turtles and provide them with an alternate source of income, they could begin to save the turtles. The Center has four specific goals: 1. to distribute information regarding conservation and legislation for turtle protection, 2. to conduct scientific and technological research for turtle management, development and conservation, 3. to promote the ecological tourism concept in the region and 4. to support community growth and development in the region. The Center has been a success and today educates visitors from around the world about efforts to protect the sea turtles. Links Update May 2003 Cosmeticos naturales de Mazunte - Servicios eco... DGHT Homepage green-pocket: Mazunte I woke up before dawn to find my bus stranded o... la plage de Mazunte la plage de Mazunte Mazunte Mazunte Mazunte Mazunte - Oaxaca Mio - La guia perfecta para co... Mazunte Beach Mazunte,Oaxaca Mexico 1999 - cesta_galerie Natural Habitat Adventures Oaxaca Home Of Turtles and Things/Planeta.com Our Mexican Vacation :-) Photo of Mazunte, Mexico Playa Mazunte Playa Mazunte PUERTO ÁNGEL-MAZUNTE tierraventura - Mazunte Untitled Document Viva Mexico! Webshots Community - Mexico 02 - Zihuatanejo, P... -Lugares de México - Mazunte Oaxaca Americas Program | Citizen Action Series: Makin... BREVE HISTORIA... - COSMÉTICOS NATURALES DE MAZ... Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga, Mazunte, Oaxaca,... -Lugares de México - Mazunte Oaxaca Traveling: Mazunte Next Page Ventanilla links On The Web previous page Powered by MSN TV next page
The state of Oaxaca is the home of nesting beaches for several of the world's species of turtle. Most of the world's turtles are endangered. They have been hunted for their meat, eggs and shells for hundreds of years and until recently were on the brink of extinction. Worldwide conservation efforts are helping but turtles are still in danger. Turtles usually lay their eggs on the beach where they were born, sometimes traveling many miles to return. They come ashore at night, dig a hole and deposit up to 200 eggs into it. The hole is then covered and the mother turtle returns to the sea. Six to ten weeks later the baby turtles hatch, digging their way out of the sand and beginning their dangerous journey to the ocean. Obstacles along the way include man, birds, animals and disorientation from man-made light sources. Just east of Puerto Escondido on the Pacific Coast lies one of the world's main nesting grounds for the olive ridley turtle. The olive ridley is the only non-endangered turtle in the world and between May and January, approximately 700,000 turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. In order to assure the turtles' survival, armed guards patrol the beach and no tourists are allowed. Two beaches in Oaxaca support nests for the rare leatherback turtle. The leatherback is the largest sea turtle and can grow up to 9 ft. long and live 80 years. It nests on Playa Mermejita and Barra de la Cruz in the most southern portion of the state. Despite international conservation efforts, turtles around the world continue to be killed for their shells, meat and eggs. Fishing boats also kill many by accidentally trapping them in their nets and drowning them. Killing sea turtles was officially banned in Mexico in 1990, however illegal hunting still takes place. Because of the on-going problem, the National Mexican Turtle Center in Mazunte was established in 1991. This community was chosen for the Center because it used to be a turtle slaughter ground. The government believed that if it could educate the local people about the turtles and provide them with an alternate source of income, they could begin to save the turtles. The Center has four specific goals: 1. to distribute information regarding conservation and legislation for turtle protection, 2. to conduct scientific and technological research for turtle management, development and conservation, 3. to promote the ecological tourism concept in the region and 4. to support community growth and development in the region. The Center has been a success and today educates visitors from around the world about efforts to protect the sea turtles.
