Summertime is turtle time in the Mexican Caribbean. It’s nesting season and we know that seeing one of these rare creatures emerge from the sea at night is always a thrilling experience, but we ask you to act responsibly and watch from a distance. By making a noise, shining bright lights or using a flash to take pictures of a female turtle you will startle her and she will leave the beach without nesting. When this happens, she will lay her eggs in the water and the entire clutch will be lost (on average 90 to 110 eggs). Just imagine that, fewer baby turtles will be born, not something that anyone would want on their conscience.
Please follow these guidelines:
* Be very quiet and keep still
* Watch from a distance of five meters and do not attempt to touch the turtle or disturb her in any way.
* Do not shine a torch in her direction
* No flash photography
* Alert the security staff at your resort
* If you are staying in a beachfront villa or room, turn the terrace lights off at night and close the curtains. Bright lights disorientate turtles.
* No smoking
* Help keep the beaches clean, take your garbage with you when you leave and do not stub cigarettes out in the sand
* Reduce your use of plastic bags. Turtles prey on jellyfish and mistake plastic floating in the water as a tasty food morsel. They swallow the bags with lethal consequences.
* Use biodegradable suntan lotion and shower before entering the sea to rinse it off. Oils and chemicals are harmful to turtles and other marine life. Wear a t-shirt while snorkeling to protect you from the sun.
* If you see a turtle while snorkeling or diving, do not frighten it by chasing it, making a noise or abrupt movements.
* If you and your children help set the baby turtles free later in the summer, follow the instructions given by resort staff. Keep quiet and please refrain from using your flash to take pictures.
Take a look at our video
Remember that under Mexican law it is illegal to persecute and hunt sea turtles,
steal their eggs, or consume turtle products.
Help us protect our turtle visitors, learn more about the Royal Resorts Turtle Release Program.
June 24 Turtle Update
Our Royal visitors from the sea have been very busy these past few nights and we are delighted to report that to date 51 turtles have laid their eggs on the beach in front of The Royal Mayan, The Royal Caribbean and The Royal Islander. The security guards have already moved 6,196 eggs to the corral. While most of the nesting turtles were green turtles, 10 loggerheads have also been registered and interestingly two hawksbills, the smallest species in the Mexican Caribbean and one that usually nests further north.
At The Royal Sands, the tally stands at 29 nests and 3,439 eggs, all green turtles. After the heavy rain last Sunday, the night was particularly active with seven turtles coming ashore to nest!
Stay posted for further news on this blog during the season and share your turtle stories with us, we’d love to hear from you.
Turtle photo by Royal Resorts member Louis P. – Thanks, Louis!
