Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Turtle hatching and release dates

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Wondering if there are any planned turtle hatching/releases in the next couple of weeks?

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Wondering if there are any planned turtle hatching/releases in the next couple of weeks?

You're kidding, right? Planned hatchings? :snicker:

You can come ask the good folks at the Sector Naval by the pier, the Catalina Hotel at La Ropa or at the Campamento Tortuguero Ayotlcalli on Playa Blanca if they expect any hatchings soon from their respective sea turtle egg incubation areas, but no one can predict any hatchings with precision, much less plan them. Just sayin'... ;-)

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If you find yourself in Troncones, Roberto's restaurant has a turtle release program. Not sure what time of year it starts, but when it does they release turtles every day!

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Antonio at Catalina keeps track of expected hatch dates. If you ask at the beach bar at Catalina, they may be able to tell you about when to expect releases. Releases take place just after sunset.

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Thanks to everyone

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Eggs are laid after the rainy season and take about 60 to incubate. So, a few more weeks and the first batches will be ready to go.

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Thank you

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Eggs are laid after the rainy season and take about 60 to incubate. So, a few more weeks and the first batches will be ready to go.

Juan, with all due respect, amigo, that isn't correct. Technically turtles can lay eggs all year round, and we see some species more than others at different times of year.

July through February seems to be the peak time of year for the three species we see most often here: the Golfina, the Prieta and the Laud. The Golfina is the most common sea turtle here, and they can lay eggs year round. The past couple of years their peak season lasted until around the end of March and beginning of April.

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Hola. Please excuse my ignorance, but why do they have to be released at night? There are a lot more predators at night.

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The worst predators are the birds, and they can't see them at night!

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Hola. Please excuse my ignorance, but why do they have to be released at night? There are a lot more predators at night.

Their instinct after hatching is to crawl towards light, such as a sunset, to avoid ending up as the source of a seabird feeding frenzy. It gives them a better chance to survive their first few hours.

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The last 2 years (the week after Thanksgiving), we've witnessed multiple hatchings and mama's laying eggs EVERY night near Villa Mexicana.

I was so upset this year when a crowd gathered around a mama while she was preparing to lay her eggs. She had the hole partially dug, but between the loud voices and flashlights, she was uncomfortable and returned to the ocean (without laying her eggs). This incident has bothered me ever since it happened. :-(

--
~ ~ Country Dancer

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The last 2 years (the week after Thanksgiving), we've witnessed multiple hatchings and mama's laying eggs EVERY night near Villa Mexicana.

I was so upset this year when a crowd gathered around a mama while she was preparing to lay her eggs. She had the hole partially dug, but between the loud voices and flashlights, she was uncomfortable and returned to the ocean (without laying her eggs). This incident has bothered me ever since it happened.

I wish you had spoken up and told the people to give her space and turn off the damn flashlights. Incidents like this cause turtles to dump their eggs at sea. Those who can't speak need us to speak up for them.

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The number of turtle nests on Playa la Ropa peeked in late August, early September with several nights having more than 50 nests dug. Yes, they take about 60 days to hatch.

Right now we are seeing less than one nest a night.

However, our Turtle Guardian really takes care of things. He watches the locations of the nests and if they are in a bad place, collects the eggs and takes them to the Catalina where they are reburied and watched. He also picks up the late hatchers puts them in a bucket and takes them to the Catalina for night time releases. This week he has only had one group of late ones and it was small.

If you want to find him, he starts on the beach about 7:30 next to the Villa Mexicana, empties the trash cans, then looks for nests and babies. Then he picks up trash. He is dressed in the official white polo shirt, wears his ID and khaki shorts. He takes every opportunity to educate the public about the turtles, especially the kids.

If you want to see a hatching or hatchlings, your best bet is to talk to him.

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Wow, 50 nests in one night. I had no idea. It must be wonderful to see. We have felt lucky to see one at a time.

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Rob-You are correct as always. I didn't want to have a complete dissertation on tortugas , including their mating habits. I should have been clearer and explained that was the first of three or four times per year , depending on the species. But he was only interested in the next two weeks, so I didn't go into a complete dissertation. But thank you for educating me once again.

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