Escobilla, Oaxaca — Environmental officers bury over 5,700 stolen sea turtle eggs from a beach in Oaxaca. The eggs, which would no longer hatch, were buried in sand after being left behind by poachers.
The Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) says they located a total of 5,730 olive ridley turtle eggs in the Escobilla Beach Sanctuary during a surveillance operation.
“On the occasion of the arrival of sea turtles at the Playa La Escobilla Sanctuary, Oaxaca, personnel from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection and the Navy carried out a Sea Turtle Protection operation from July 24 to 30, in which they seized 5,730 olive ridley sea turtle eggs.
“During the operation, surveillance patrols were carried out in which the presence of turtle egg looters was detected. Upon noticing the presence of the authorities, they fled, leaving the sacks with the eggs behind.
“The eggs were immediately recovered and subsequently given a final disposal by burying them on the same beach, in a nest-free area, since these products are no longer viable for hatching,” Profepa reported in a statement.
Profepa will continue to provide support for the 2025-2026 sea turtle arrival season through the sea turtle protection program in coordination with Semar. The olive ridley turtle is considered an endangered species by NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 and is listed in CITES Appendix 1.
