It’s a perilous march to the waves for newly hatched sea turtles emerging from their sandy nests on the shores of Tulum, Mexico. Though the baby loggerhead, leatherback and green sea turtles are all protected species, their endangered status does little to protect against natural threats.
And in many cases, those threats come from above.
A few weeks ago, Rene Ramos was visiting the beach in Tulum when he noticed a clutch of sea turtle eggs had just recently hatched. As they made their way to the water, predatory birds began circling overhead — eager to get their fill of the vulnerable hatchlings.
That’s when Ramos decided to intervene on their behalf.
Using a large rake, Ramos managed to keep the hungry birds at bay, forming a protective shield of sorts to give the endangered baby sea turtles a fighting chance to make it to the relative safety of the ocean.
Simply by wielding that landscaping tool to ward off the birds, Ramos likely saved countless lives.
“I had the opportunity to appreciate when the turtles spawned,” Ramos wrote in a comment. “Now I could see them emerge and try to reach the sea.”
Fortunately, baby sea turtles typically emerge at night, when the threat from birds is diminished. But Ramos is far from alone in his desire to protect them.
Groups like the Municipal Committee for the Protection of Sea Turtles are present in Tulum to mark and safeguard the turtles’ most vital nesting locations. To further ensure their survival in those early moments of life, some turtle eggs are collected and released upon hatching.
Some threats, like those posed by people and pets, still remain, says biologist Rocío Peralta in an interview with The Tulum Times:
“It’s not just about rules on paper. It’s about boots on the ground and eyes on the nests,” she said. “Each egg we protect is a chance for future generations to witness turtles on our shores.”
