The Takata Turtle Conservation Program is the result of a collaboration with Proyecto Aak Mahahual, an organization that protects sea turtles on local beaches and under the technical guidance of Roberto Herrera, who specializes in sea turtle conservation at Colegio de la Frontera Sur.
The Program’s objectives are organized around three main axes:
- Monitoring the local turtle population: The Program collects data concerning the demography and health of the population, the location of nesting and foraging grounds and the challenges to conservation. The obtained information allows us to promote pragmatic actions for the management and conservation of these beautiful animals. Our data is also be shared with our collaborators at Colegio de la Frontera Sur and Universidad de Quintana Roo.
- Surveillance and protection of nesting grounds: Permanent surveillance committees staffed by volunteers monitor beaches during nesting season in order to mark nests and build incubation pens. In exceptional cases (predation, pillage, flooding) eggs can be transported from their nests into incubation pens or nurseries.
- Environmental education: Turtle conservation activities present important pedagogical opportunities for the environmental education of the local population as well as students of all levels. Takata Research Center will soon be offering courses and seminars on sea turtle biology and conservation. Students will be able to participate in surveillance and conservation activities, as well as in data collection.
We are currently developing a turtle identification database that will allow us to follow the life history of each individual turtle that nests on our beaches. We are also working with local partners to organize nest protection activities.
Takata Research Center is currently looking for motivated individuals with knowledge of sea turtle biology and conservation to help us with the development of this program.
