It’s turtle time again in Cabo. And it’s a great time to
be here and experience this wonderful natural spectacle.
Cabo, and all the beaches of Baja California Sur, are famous
for being the hatching ground for 7 of the world’s 8 species of sea turtles.
Every year, between July
and September, female adult turtles leave the sea in the dead of night. They
crawl up on to the beaches and use their powerful fins to dig a nest in the
sand. Where they deposit their eggs one by one and then cover them with sand
before slipping back into the sea.
After 45-60 days the hatching
begins. And so does the danger. As the tiny baby turtles instinctively scurry
toward the sea they are extremely vulnerable to all sorts of predators. And
this is where ASUPMATOMA steps in to help these tiny creatures.
ASUPMATOMA is Cabo’s local turtle
conservation charity. Set up in 1995, each season ASUPMATOMA runs two very
successful turtle camps with nest protection and release programs. Volunteers
are enlisted to help run the programs.
Everyone from locals to tourists
to children are invited to lend a hand. Nest care and night patrols are just
some of the activities you can do at the moment. And the turtle release programs begin
in September when the first turtles begin to hatch.
Anyone interested in the
experience of protecting the sea turtles should get in touch. You can send an
email to asupmatoma@hotmail.com, or
check out the website. Costs are 100
pesos for adults and 50 pesos for children. All funds raised go towards
protection, research and environmental education.
Get involved. Watching these
turtles dig their nocturnal nests, seeing the babies hatch and ensuring their safe
release back to the sea is something you will never
forget.