PANAMÁ, THE CALL OF NATURE
RAThree species of turtles in
extinction danger annually
arrive at Panamanian coasts to
fulfill the cycle of life.
Every year they meet in
Panamanian beaches. They arrive
quiet with an objective and they
do not leave until to have
fulfilled its task of laying
thousands of eggs that, between
45 and 60 days later will become
small turtles that will run
towards the sea as soon as they
touch the sand.
In this race the young turtles
are vulnerable to the attack of
crabs, mammals and birds. With
luck, they will survive 20 years
to return like adult turtles to
the beach where they were born
and to initiate the cycle of
life again.
After digging a hole with its
back fins, they lay eggs in it
and soon they cover the nest
with sand, moving itself over
it. Before leaving, they advance
about one meter and they make a
false mark similar to which is
in its nest, with the hope to
confuse the predators.
Fascinating, isn't it?
well it is only a look to this
wonderful phenomenon of the
nature.
Every year, the arrival of the
first turtle marks the beginning
of the season of egg-laying in
sites such as la Marinera beach
the at Guánico (in the district
of Tonosí, Los Santos Province),
Caña Island (to the south of
Azuero), Malena Beach in Mariato
(in the south of Veraguas
Province) and Barqueta Beach (in
Alanje, Chiriquí Province).
The turtles - animal in danger
of extinction- that arrive here
are the turtle caguama or
loro(Caretta Caretta) and the
golfita turtle (Lepidochelys
Olivacea). In 2008, thousands of
turtles of these species laid
millions of eggs in Panamanian
coasts.
Environmentalist groups and
conservationist in Panamá, have
the arduous work to preserve
these species. From the
beginning of the season of
egg-laying, the volunteers
initiate the work to watch day
and night the places where the
turtles lay eggs, so they move
the eggs to artificials nest of
one meter of depth, previously
dug by the volunteers away from
the beach waves.
Like in the natural process, the
eggs are covered with sand; next
to the nest is placed a wood
stake with the date of
egg-laying and the probable date
in that they will be born.
In some sites, barriers are
placed as cyclone fences to
prevent that predators like
dogs, some birds and humans.
When finishing the period of
incubation, the volunteers
attend the small turtles, from
the moment at which they leave
the nest, until they initiate a
race towards the sea.
Sometimes manage to approach
them few meters of the sea,
being reduced therefore the
danger to be attacked by the
predators.
Every year, Panamá receives in
its coasts this visit, waited
for with anxieties by local
visitors and loving foreigners
of the nature and the
eco-tourism. The efforts by the
conservation of the species
continue and continue growing
year after year.
For more information visits:
www.marviva.net and
www.anam.gob.pa
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