Conservation groups work to counteract impacts to sea turtles 1 year after Hurricane Maria's devastating blow
The tinglar, or tinglado, turtle is one of the most remarkable species of sea turtles that visit the coasts of the island of Puerto Rico. It has a leatherback carapace formed by thin plates, can weight up to 1,000 pounds and can reach a size of up to 3 meters (7 feet).
The beaches of Puerto Rico are one of the greatest nesting centers in the Caribbean for the tinglar, which is considered the largest sea turtle in the world.
Last August, the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNRA), Tania Vázquez, said in a statement that the nesting season of the tinglar turtle closed with 1,370 nests throughout the island.
This figure represents a decrease of 807 nests compared to the last nesting season, which closed with 2,177 nests.
"Even though there is a reduction in the quantity of nests around the island, we still need to calculate the amount of baby turtles that hatched. Sometimes there is a reduction in the nests, but not in the number of neonates that are born," said Vázquez.
Also, she added, the protection of this species is possible thanks to the excellent work that volunteers from turtle conservation nonprofits develop in the island.
Citizen hands help in the conservation of the tinglar turtle in Puerto Rico
In a summer afternoon, hundreds of people crowded the coasts of Ocean Park, one of the busiest beaches on the island. Tourists and locals that came to relax near the sea discovered the spectacle that was developing by their side: Around 67 tinglar baby turtles were being liberated into the sea.
Near the ocean water, several pairs of hands merged into the sand, creating a path in which the new born turtles could pull themselves towards their final destination: the sea.
After almost 52 days developing inside an egg buried in the sand, the tinglar neonates were ready to embark on their journey to the warm waters of the Atlantic.
But, on this occasion, the newborns were not doing it alone.
Their travel is being assisted by the community turtle group 7 Quillas, a local nonprofit that it is dedicated to the protection of the coasts of Ocean Park during the tinglar turtle nesting season.
The chances of turtles getting back to the ocean are decreased by the menace of predators and humans that on many occasions interfere with the nesting process.
After Hurricane Maria devastated the island during September last year, a new challenge has been presented to newborn tinglar turtles: massive erosion on the beaches.
"The impact of Hurricane María on the nesting of the tinglar turtles was mainly the erosion of the coasts. As the coasts erode, the space that the female tinglar has for nesting is minimized," explained Evelyn Vázquez, a volunteer of the organization 7 Quillas.
1 year after Maria: Conservation groups help sea turtles recover
AP Photo/Garret Fischer
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(Photo/7 Quillas)
The group 7 Quillas was founded in 2015 by residents of the Ocean Park community.
(Photo/ Manuel Crespo Feliciano)
Over 67 turtles were liberated by 7 Quillas August 2018.
(Photo/ Manuel Crespo Feliciano)
This newborn tinglar turtle rests in the sand, before continuing her journey to the sea.
(Photo/Manuel Crespo Feliciano)
This volunteer observes some of the turtles already getting inside the sea.
(Photo/ Manuel Crespo Feliciano)
The activity also served as an educational workshop for girls from nearby communities.
(Photo/ Manuel Crespo Feliciano)
The group have a diverse base of volunteers from the community.
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Although the erosion of the coasts in Puerto Rico was aggravated by the atmospheric events that swept the island last year, according to the study Assessment of beach morphology at Puerto Rico Island, erosion of the coasts is an event that affects 60 percent of the beaches in Puerto Rico since 1970.
After the cyclones of the past year, there were cases such as La Boca beach in the municipality of Barceloneta, where there was a reduction of 168 feet of coastline (51 meters).
And the beaches still do not recover.
Thanks to this type of community-based initiatives that relocates some of the tinglar nests, the preservation of the species is guaranteed.
The 7 Quillas group has the support of both the municipality of San Juan and the DRNA, who train and facilitate the materials that help to sustain the community project.
"Nature gave us a great lesson, the turtles came and nested as always. 7 Quillas did the same work of creating conscience and educating people to respect the environment. Also, nature has taught us once again that communities are who can transform a country and that even from the worst experiences, nature is always reborn," said the Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Y. Cruz, who participated in the activity.
Author's note: Karuska Matos Horta and María Fernanda Vivanco collaborated in the development of this story.
