The Annual Turtle Breeding Season runs from May 15th – October 28th. The beaches on the east side of the island have been the birthplace to thousands of loggerhead and green turtles. The mothers start coming ashore in June and July at night, digging a nest as deep as one meter and laying 100 or more eggs. Sixty days later, the eggs begin to hatch. Cozumel is fast becoming a destination for people that want to spend vacation time assisting in the preservation of these beautiful gifts from the sea. Read more about Cozumel Turtles in the Volunteer Opportunities section of TCS.
Update September 2016:
Our total nests for the season stands at 3,110 and today’s green turtle nest contained 145 eggs, 132 of which hatched successfully and made it to the sea.
These are ‘donations’ to the Cozumel Turtles directed to only the Ecology Dept.
same price for kids or adults… its a great experience for everyone.
There will be bracelets given for the following by Ecology Dept staff and their volunteers: bracelets to do the following experiences are at the ecology truck or with official volunteers
$25 – for the Search and Rescue experience (NOW until mid November) – as the turtles ARE hatching – you can help with the digging into the nest to rescue only the baby turtles that may not have made it out of the nest unless you did assist. – again you must have your own transportation and the location is not ever specific – YOU MUST MEET AT THE TURTLE SIGNS…. 3.30 PM you will also participate in the natural release that day …..
$20 – to attend the natural release at the beach where a ‘natural’ nest will be releasing around sunset nearly every night you must MEET AT THE TURTLE SIGNS AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 5.30 PM or FOLLOW THE TRUCK TO THE NATURAL RELEASE SITE… (Now till mid November) – this is a guided experience with volunteers of the ecology dept. -and others… IF YOU DO not purchase the bracelets will be asked to WATCH ONLY from the road side. Additional contributions will be asked at your desire to the volunteers of the Ecology Dept. only – bracelets are availalbe at the Ecology Truck with the official volunteers with t shirts
It takes the newly hatched turtles as much as three days to climb to the surface and head for the ocean. Instinctively, the newborns wait until they sense less light and cooler temperatures, which tell them it is dusk and a safer time to march toward the surf.
Volunteers are an important part of the effort to insure healthy populations of sea turtles. Quite often, the first turtles to hatch start their climb to surface and pack sand on top of the remaining eggs, making it difficult for the late-hatchers to escape the deep nest.
Residents and tourists lend a hand every afternoon, digging up the nests that the government staff has identified as newly hatched. If there are no babies left behind, the leftover eggs (hatched and unhatched) are counted and recorded.
Your time and donation will help this worthwhile continue to have a positive impact on the Cozumel turtles.
