Sunset World Resorts Achieves Successful Results in the Sea Turtle Conservation Program

The state of Quintana Roo is fortunate to receive annual visits from four of the seven known species of sea turtles, which arrive on the beaches to nest. The preservation of these specimens is of the utmost importance to Sunset World. Therefore we take action to assure its protection.

México’s broad biodiversity provides the ideal conditions for six of the seven species of sea turtles to choose our country as a place to feed, rest and breed, and for that reason it is very important to respect and care for their nests, as these marine animals are catalogued within the Mexican law as endangered species

In an effort to counteract and avoid the negative effects of overfishing, the destruction of nests and of turtle habitats by human activity, Sunset World Resorts and Vacation Experiences support the “Sea Turtle Protection Program” in Cancún.

Corrals are installed for the protection and care of the eggs and hatchlings of Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), on the beach in front of the Sunset Royal hotel. We work in direct collaboration with Cancún’s municipality government.

The Municipal Ecology Department assures requirements are met under the operating permit of the turtle camp that the Wildlife Directorate issues. Sunset World participates in this program from the beginning of the nesting season in late April and early May until November. Sunset World is committed to protecting natural resources and guaranteeing the protection of the female specimens that deposit their eggs during the nesting season.

From 2009 to 2016, Sunset World has actively participated in the Sea Turtle Protection Program, achieving the recovery of 64,586 eggs and the liberation of 53,900 hatchlings of Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles. The most abundant has been the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and in second place the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Through August of the current year, 11,638 eggs have been deposited in the corrals designated for turtles at Sunset Royal hotel and 1,079 baby turtles have been liberated.

Sunset World expects this figure to increase considerably as the gestation cycle of the eggs comes to an end as the number of eggs deposited is the highest since 2011.

PREPARATION

Personnel are trained in the safe management of females, eggs and nests by the Municipal Ecology Department, and in the management of the turtle corral, which is installed following the guidelines established by the Municipal Ecology Department.

These are the actions carried out by Sunset World during the 2017 Sea Turtle Protection Program:

Handling specifications

Employee training

Pen construction

Preservation techniques

Pen area selection

Female turtle handling

Egg recollection

Nest planting

Nest location

Nest and egg counts

Hatchling controlled liberation

Nests, hatchlings and female arrival statistical reporting

Lounge chair and Balinese bed removal, lights off at night, lightspotting

PRESS RELEASE SOURCE: Sunset World Resorts