Sea Turtle Release in Punta de Mita, Mexico

Sea turtles have been happy in the oceans for more than 100 million years. But their happy life was brutally changed by humans and their lifestyle (hunting, navigation, dumping garbage in the oceans, pollution, etc.). Today, sea turtles species are endangered and vulnerable. This is where organizations like Red Tortuguera take action.

“Red Tortuguera’s mission is to unite the efforts of conservationists, students, and communities in the region to increase the marine turtle populations. The network is made up of turtle conservation camps from the coasts of Nayarit and Jalisco.”

Besides their research and protection activities, Red Tortuguera raises awareness through educational programs that involve local communities. People need to understand the importance of healthy ecosystems and learn about turtles’ habitat and behavior and how to protect them.

Sea turtle release is a program supported by resorts in Punta de Mita, Mexico, which aims to increase the number of turtles in the Pacific Ocean. Each year, luxury resorts like St. Regis Punta Mita Resort gather their employees and guests in an attempt to give something back to the environment.

The event includes a lecture held by a marine biologist who explains everything there’s to know about sea turtle’s lifestyle and the things that put them in danger. From natural predators to plastic waste and pollution, sea turtles have a rough life.

Sea turtle release in Punta de Mita is completed on the beach, at sunset, when dozens of little sea turtles are released into the ocean. What better way to spend your holiday than knowing you helped a little creature get home safe?

So if you enjoy swimming with turtles in the ocean and having a clean environment, pay attention to your own lifestyle: how much plastic do you use and how much do you recycle; where you dispose your garbage; how much energy you waste and how much you contribute to general pollution; how you treat wildlife and how you can harm it, consciously or not.