Security guards at The Royal Sands, The Royal Caribbean and The Royal Islander and at Grand Residences in Puerto Morelos are preparing for a summer of patient vigil as they watch over the sea turtles that come ashore at night to nest.
From May to September, one of nature’s greatest wonders takes place in the Mexican Caribbean. Female sea turtles emerge from the waves at night to lay their eggs in the sand on the same beaches where they were born many years earlier. Forty-five to 60 days later the eggs hatch and the baby turtles race across the sand towards the waves.
Royal Resorts has been participating in the annual campaign to protect this endangered species since 1985. Our guards patrol the beaches in search of nesting turtles. When they find one, they watch over her as she digs her nest and deposits her eggs. They then transfer the eggs to a corral where they must dig another nest that is identical to the original. The species, date and time of nesting and number of eggs are duly recorded and another long wait begins until they hatch. Finally, members and guests help guards release the hatchlings to start life at sea.
Record keeping began at Royal Resorts in 1998 and in 17 years we have protected 6,524 nests and released 548,756 baby turtles! Nesting seasons are cyclical with a good year followed by a slow year. As the 2013 season was record-breaking with 822 nests and 2014 was much quieter with only 248, we are hoping that our turtle guardians will be busier this year.
If you are due to visit Royal Resorts during the summer, join us in protecting these beautiful creatures.
Do you know the Turtle Rules?
Follow the Turtle Rules when you see a nesting turtle on the beach or participate in the turtle releases later in the season:
* Alert the security staff
* Be very quiet and keep still
* Watch from a distance (five meters) and do not attempt to touch the turtle or crowd her
* Do not shine a torch in her direction or use your flash when taking pictures
* If you bring your children to help release the hatchlings, make sure that they follow instructions
- Baby turtles are not playthings; they are fragile and must be handled with great care
- No flash photography
- No smoking
- Keep our beaches and sea clean. Discarded plastic bags, beer packaging, fishing lines and other garbage floating in the water are lethal to turtles and other marine life.
Turtles are protected by Mexican law and it is illegal to persecute and hunt them and consume their meat or eggs.
Visit our blog www.royalresortsnews.com for more turtle news during the season. You can also pick up a Save the Sea Turtle t-shirt from the Gift Shop and support conservation.
