Cozumel, Q.R. — Cozumel authorities have released around 200 baby sea turtles into the sea. The release was made Wednesday and was the first after the passing of Category 2 Hurricane Beryl.
Cozumel Mayor Juanita Alonso Marrufo participated in the release of the sea turtle hatchlings that were from nests rescued by staff of the Subdirectorate of Ecology prior to the arrival of Beryl.
Alonso says their release was done on Playa Chumul and “these little turtles were rescued and were in recent days under the care and protection of the staff of the Subdirectorate of Ecology.
“With the emergency protocol, around 4,300 turtle eggs were collected, and thanks to the tireless efforts of the team, these turtles now have a second chance and are ready to return to the sea.
“Each of the turtles is a symbol of resilience and hope due to their great capacity for survival and the importance they have for marine ecosystems,” she said.
Germán Yáñez Mendoza, the Deputy Director of Ecology, explained that this program consisted of rescuing sea turtle eggs from nests that were located in vulnerable areas near sea water in order to move them to a safer place before Beryl arrived.
He explained that the 200 Caretta or Loggerhead sea turtles released have been those that have hatched since the passing of Hurricane Beryl. He said the eggs collected were moved for safekeeping with other eggs in other nests.
He reported that Hurricane Beryl affected at least 90 percent of the sea turtle nests that had already been recorded on the island, so the next release of future hatchlings will not likely be until mid-September.
