Carlos León Alemán, in charge of the turtle camp at the Center for the Technological Study of the Sea (Cetmat) 17 Yucalpetén, had a surprise on Monday, January 6, when he rescued a nest of sea turtles of the hawksbill species on a beach near buildings under construction at facilities of said institution.
The discovery involved 23 babies, which were secured and later released that same day to be returned to the sea.
According to the professor, this event was extraordinary and exceptional because it occurred in the middle of winter, since the hatching period of sea turtles in Yucatan normally occurs between July and November, after an incubation period of between six and eight weeks.
The expert explained that the nesting season begins in April and lasts six months.
During this time, the females dig a chamber up to 90 centimeters deep in the sand to deposit their eggs, which are usually spherical measuring approximately four centimeters in diameter.
Incubation and hatching time depend on the temperature of the sand surrounding the nest. The warmer it is, the faster the embryos will develop.
Furthermore, temperature influences the sex of the offspring. When it exceeds 29.3 degrees Celsius, females are more likely to be born.
After hatching, turtles usually crawl out to sea away from the coast. Years later, when they reach reproductive age, they return to the beaches where they were born to spawn. He stressed that the rescue of the nest highlights the importance of protecting nesting areas and promoting the conservation of the species, especially at an unusual time of year.
TYT Newsroom
