The release of seventy-three baby sea turtles making their way to the sea was an amazing spectacle to behold recently along Sandy Beach.
Following an incubation period, the baby Olive Ridley sea turtles were placed carefully on the sand in front of the Sonoran Spa complex, in the precise spot where their mother had spawned them weeks earlier. After being placed in the sand, the tiny creatures made their way to the sea with only the sun as their guide.
The first release of baby sea turtles this season was done under the careful supervision and monitoring of biologist Itzel Cárdenas, who is in charge of caring for the turtle eggs through incubation. Staff from the Federal Maritime Land Zone (ZOFEMAT) also took part in the release, along with the Municipal Office of Ecology and Sustainable Development, with support from the Tourism Auxiliary Unit, staff from the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO), and security guards from Sonoran Spa.
Procedures for release of the minute sea creatures was carried out under surveillance protocols, ensuring the baby sea turtles could make their way to sea while safely progressing into their habitat.
This was the first release of baby sea turtles in Rocky Point this season, following the spawning and careful safeguarding of 614 eggs detected in nests around the area. All eggs were placed into artificial incubation to help ensure their development.
Sea turtle spawning has become frequent during the summer, which has led to implementation of very specific protocols to help protect the precious sea life. In addition, work is underway to develop a program to promote this activity as it becomes more of a natural wonder – both to see turtles emerge from the sea to lay their eggs, and release of the baby sea turtles as they find their home at sea.