Three sea turtles died days ago after being attacked by a group of feral dogs. At least two more turtles were injured in the incident, but their wounds were not significant. They returned to the sea.
According to the organization Club de la Tortuga Telchac Puerto, wild canines that roamed the beaches of Progreso attacked the turtles. The marine animals received help by people who were nearby and who chased the dogs away.
The assaulted turtles were rescued and given immediate care. However, three of the chelonians died due to the serious injuries they sustained during the attack. The rest of the turtles were released and returned to the sea.
The nesting season for sea turtles runs from April to October, when thousands of specimens arrive on the Yucatecan coast to lay their eggs, in a strip that goes from Celestún to El Cuyo.
As every year in that season, the authorities ask the population to avoid contact with the turtles. It is also requested that, in the event of detecting any risk to the turtles, the corresponding authorities be notified immediately.
The Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), in coordination with the Secretary of Sustainable Development (SDS), municipalities and civil organizations work in 8 turtle camps where nests that were made in risky sites are transferred.
Likewise, volunteers and authorities monitor and guard along the coast to take care of those turtles that nest and prevent them from getting hurt or affected.
According to the Association for Animal Rights in Yucatan (ADAY), the overpopulation of stray dogs in the state has become a problem. According to the statistics of this organization, in 2022, there were more than 3,400 attacks by stray dogs on people, which implies an increase of 44% compared to 2021.
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