Animal conservation specialists have reminded people that, with the start of turtle nesting season in April, it is important to protect the beaches by avoiding heavy vehicles and fires, as these are preferred areas for turtles to nest. Every year, hundreds of turtles come to nest on these beaches.
In 2022, the Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan group registered around 9,000 nests in Celestun and El Cuyo (Yucatan), and Holbox (Quintana Roo). In the case of Yucatan’s beaches, the increase compared to 2021 was 139% for Celestun and 75% for El Cuyo, according to the civil organization.
Melania Lopez Castro, the head of Pronatura’s Turtle Conservation Program, explained that the nesting season began on April 1st and will last until the end of October or the first few days of November, depending on weather conditions.
“It is recommended to avoid the passage and entry of heavy vehicles on the beach because it affects the turtle nests that are already there. It is also necessary to avoid lighting fires at night because it scares the females and prevents them from coming out to nest. When the hatching begins, the light from the fires attracts the hatchlings and they can die from burns,” she said.
Melania Lopez also pointed out that turtle arrivals have been documented since the end of March, although the peak of hatching for the hawksbill turtle is in May.
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