Sea turtle hatchlings stolen and sold by municipal employee

[OregonDM]

I have heard of resorts and cruises offering sea turtle "release" experiences to unknowing tourists. This is of course illegal, the only organization authorized to do anything with sea turtles is the official government ecology organization (Ecologia Cozumel).

Sea Turtle theft and depredation on Cozumel beaches under investigation - The Yucatan Times

Allegedly, Cozumel City Hall employees profit from stolen specimens. The National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) is investigating the removal of turtle hatchlings from Campo Torguero by employees of the Cozumel City Council to present a liberation show for which they are paid in...

www.theyucatantimes.com

 

[cicopo]

That's rather sad to read. I can only hope the employees & hotel pay a major price in fines etc.

 

[lionfish-eater]

Some people will do anything for an extra buck or two.
They should name the hotel.

 

[cicopo]

I agree. Name the hotel & also any information on how it got involved. Someone had to come up with the plan.

 

[JohnN]

I have heard of resorts and cruises offering sea turtle "release" experiences to unknowing tourists. This is of course illegal, the only organization authorized to do anything with sea turtles is the official government ecology organization (Ecologia Cozumel).

Sea Turtle theft and depredation on Cozumel beaches under investigation - The Yucatan Times

Allegedly, Cozumel City Hall employees profit from stolen specimens. The National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) is investigating the removal of turtle hatchlings from Campo Torguero by employees of the Cozumel City Council to present a liberation show for which they are paid in...

www.theyucatantimes.com

Corruption in Mexico. Say it aint't so. . .

 

[JFS]

Ex Pat Cindy Trautwein is involved with doing illegal tours for turtle rescues through the Ecologia Dept. She has been pocketing lots of cash for many years. There was another investigation a few years back on this. Surprised she hasnt been thrown in jail for this Federal Mexican Crime. Foreigner Sells Release of Baby Turtles on Cozumel. This same woman was involved in a cancer fundraiser for a Cozumel Humane Society member and she kept $4000. Others that were involved in the fundraiser caught her in that act. Unfortunately , the justice system here is very corrupt so nothing was done. The only authorized turtle release programs are done through government agencies, Ecologia Cozumel (local municipality) and FPMC ( Federal Parks). No others are allowed to do programs.

 

[mediumone]

@JFS

We are indebted to you for naming names.

 

[LI-er]

I watched a documentary recently on sea turtle hatchlings research and it left me very troubling and perplexed.

You've got these scientists and researchers working their butts off for months, using bulldozers to build berms on which the sea turtles lay their eggs, they watch and wait and protect the nests, and then when the turtles hatch they say "that's all we can do, our job is done, we cannot interfere" and the next scene is a massacre where numerous birds fly down and pick off the baby turtles one by one, along with numerous other creatures as the little turtles waddle along the sand and jump into the sea where even more predators await them.

The scientists and researchers "can't do anything" except stand there watch the bloodshed that wipes out 98% of the turtles and all their hard work?

How about at least waving a flag and yelling at the freaking birds?

 

[Shawn C]

I watched a documentary recently on sea turtle hatchlings research and it left me very troubling and perplexed.

You've got these scientists and researchers working their butts off for months, using bulldozers to build berms on which the sea turtles lay their eggs, they watch and wait and protect the nests, and then when the turtles hatch they say "that's all we can do, our job is done, we cannot interfere" and the next scene is a massacre where numerous birds fly down and pick off the baby turtles one by one, along with numerous other creatures as the little turtles waddle along the sand and jump into the sea where even more predators await them.

The scientists and researchers "can't do anything" except stand there watch the bloodshed that wipes out 98% of the turtles and all their hard work?

How about at least waving a flag and yelling at the freaking birds?

It's not that we can't do anything, it's that we shouldn't.

This is the way it has always been during turtle hatching season. The more humans interfere, even with the best of intentions, the more unexpected consequences there are. For example, those birds depend on the turtle hatching season, as do the predators in the ocean. If we prevent them from doing what they have always done, what damage might we end up causing not only to those creatures, but also on every other creature that are associated with them down the chain?

It makes sense to help the turtles hatch because we humans have taken away so many of their normal nesting sites that their numbers are dwindling (not to mention fishing bycatch & poaching). But, once they hatch, let nature take its course.

 

[LI-er]

It makes sense to help the turtles hatch because we humans have taken away so many of their normal nesting sites that their numbers are dwindling (not to mention fishing bycatch & poaching). But, once they hatch, let nature take its course.

Well, I get your point, but back to the dwindling numbers.. geez you'd think they can at least wave off a bird or two. Watching that slaughter would bring tears to the eyes of Jack the Ripper.