When I came to Akumal for the first time, I never thought that I would finish the turtle nesting season in charge of the turtle program. Today the season is over and we have finished the final report for SEMARNAT, the Mexican National Fish and Wildlife Agency that keeps the database. I’m so glad for this opportunity to work with CEA´s Turtle Protection Program.

During the season 2003 we had 13,576 hatchlings that started the most amazing trip of their lives from the beaches that we patrol day by day, with a 85.27% rate of survival from nest to sea. It is incredible to see the hatchlings crawl over the sand looking for the water. Here we need to ask, please during the next season turn off the lights at night. We don’t need the light to sleep, but the turtles need the darkness to survive.

After the season was over, we participated in the first Turtle Festival in Tulum as coordinating staff. In this event we promoted turtle protection through cultural activities for the children, such as painting contests. Everyone in Quintana Roo could see the festival on television. It was a great experience for us to work together with other groups like Xel-Ha, Xcaret, Cesiak, and the government of Tulum among others.

Now we are going to be involved in a new challenge. We will be working together with Cesiak, VIDAS, VM David Reynoso, The Veterinary Medicine and Animal Technology faculty of UNAM in Mexico City, and the Tulum municipality. We are planning a sterilization surgery program in Tulum. It has been reported that there are 1.5 dogs per household just in Tulum.

It is important to have a clinic established permanently so we can maintain control of our dogs and cats and their health. This program will help increase alliances with the other institutions.