There’s one thing concerning the sundown in La Union. Regardless of what number of instances I’ve been right here, strolling barefoot on the sand, watching the fiery orange glow sink into the horizon, and listening to the sound of waves, it all the time seems like coming house after an extended day.
I’ve watched the sundown on numerous visits to the surf city through the years, nevertheless it felt much more significant as I watched a clutch of child sea turtles scurrying throughout the sand to the ocean for the primary time.
It was the height of sea turtle nesting season throughout our #NLEXLakbay Norte media journey and we had the uncommon likelihood to witness the primary journey of child pawikans into the ocean.
La Union is understood principally for its surf scene. However do you know that round 3,000 to 7,000 sea turtle eggs are laid on its seashores yearly?
Sea turtle nesting season usually runs from October to February. It might take roughly 45 to 65 days for eggs to hatch, so releases are anticipated to final till March or April 2024 this yr.
The keen hatchlings we watched are Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, named for the olive coloration of their heart-shaped shells. Their species is among the many smallest of sea turtles, with every hatchling nearly 2 to three inches lengthy. However these tiny critters can develop up from 2 to 2.5 toes and weigh over 100 kilos as adults. Olive Ridleys can stay as much as 50 to 60 years.
In distinction, the most important sea turtle ever recorded, a Leatherback, was 8.4 toes lengthy and weighed over a ton (2,000 kilos), roughly about the identical weight as a Volkswagen Beetle.
We realized that sea turtles in La Union face lower than a 1% likelihood of survival. Up to now, turtle poaching was rampant with turtle nests being raided for eggs and turtles harvested for his or her meat and shells. Obstacles on the seashore, together with plastic rubbish, excessive foot visitors from vacationers, shiny lights from close by development or buildings, and loud noises are main hazards confronted by turtles of their conventional nesting grounds.
It was in 2009, when the volunteer-run group CURMA or Coastal Underwater Useful resource Administration Motion was born to guard the endangered keystone species from poachers and different predators. The acronym additionally pays homage to the Sanskrit Hindu god Kurma, which implies “tortoise” and “turtle.”
By way of their marine turtle conservation program, CURMA prevents eggs from being poached and provides turtles a greater likelihood for the primary a part of their lengthy journey. Former poachers have been tapped as sea turtle protectors, who assist find and switch turtle nests safely to CURMA’s hatchery in San Juan. As soon as they’ve hatched, these child pawikans are launched again to the ocean.
Sea turtles are born with the instinctive data that they should make it to the ocean. However their hometown and nesting floor can be ingrained of their system. Carlos Tamayo, the operations director of CURMA advised us that sea turtles can learn magnetic fields and have a “built-in GPS” that ensures their return.
“That is crucial stroll of their life. Since they stroll the seashore right this moment, they’re going to recollect the coordinates of their house seashore. And a few 10 to fifteen years from now, hopefully all of them survive, they’ll come again to this exact same seashore to put their eggs,” mentioned Tamayo, as we watched the child turtles dashing to the ocean to be swept away by waves.
Because the world stood nonetheless throughout the first yr of the pandemic, CURMA famous a surge in turtle nesting and hatchlings in La Union. These beautiful creatures discovered a peaceable place as soon as once more on the seashore to put eggs, devoid of the same old hordes of vacationers.
Whereas vacationers have come again to La Union, teams like CURMA proceed to coach and interact volunteers to keep away from plastic rubbish, clear up coastlines, and assist save turtle nests from poachers.
Sea turtles aren’t only a sight to behold swimming free within the wild. They assist maintain oceans in steadiness. Sea turtles apparently play a significant function in sustaining the ocean’s ecosystems and are the very best protection in opposition to jellyfish, which thrive in warming seas.
Sea turtles usually are not harmed by stingers of jellyfish; they eat these holding their numbers in verify. That is very important in areas like La Union, which depends extremely on tourism from browsing and swimming, in addition to the native fishing trade.
For those who occur to go to La Union throughout turtle nesting season, please watch your step on the seashore and look out for turtle releases. Witnessing that magical second of hatchlings’ first steps into the ocean may simply spark your will to journey extra responsibly sooner or later.
How you can save sea turtles once you journey
Right here’s how one can be a part of the efforts to guard sea turtles in La Union (and different coastal areas) as shared by CURMA.
- Assist a struggling turtle – Marine turtles can get caught in nets, particles, and plastic, which places them in peril of drowning or injuring themselves. For those who come throughout a trapped turtle, make an effort to chop the turtle unfastened from fishing gear.
- Interact in neighborhood efforts – Be a part of the native efforts to boost consciousness and be a part of the answer to save lots of the marine turtle inhabitants to offer them an opportunity to outlive.
- Report back to native authorities – Any observations of marine turtles discovered on land ought to be reported to native authorities so rescue makes an attempt might be made. Turtles ought to be tagged and launched again into the ocean.
- Don’t assist turtle merchandise – It’s unlawful to personal and commerce marine turtles, their by-products, and derivatives. Shopping for merchandise constituted of turtle shells and components will improve demand, which can result in extra turtles being poached.
- Don’t slaughter for turtle meat – It’s in opposition to the regulation to slaughter turtles for his or her meat. Searching these marine animals for meat has prompted the inhabitants’s speedy decline and undermines conservation efforts.
- Don’t acquire turtle eggs – It’s strictly prohibited to gather turtle eggs. For those who come throughout a nest web site, depart these alone to keep away from interfering with the pure technique of replica of the species.
Be taught extra about CURMA’s initiatives on their web site. The schedule of sea upcoming turtle releases are introduced on their social media accounts. In keeping with CURMA, some upcoming estimated hatching dates for February 2024 are Feb 12, 16, 18, 24, 29, with some nests anticipated to hatch in April.
Further unwatermarked photographs courtesy of CURMA.
