CEA Turtle Protection and Investigation Program
All species of sea turtle are endangered. The CEA Turtle Watch Program (TWP) protects the sea turtles and their habitats and supports research into their nesting ecology and biology. Two species of sea turtles nest on the beaches at Akumal: the "loggerhead" (Caretta caretta) and the "green" (Chelonia mydas). From April to September, the females of these two species come ashore at night to lay their eggs. After 50-60 days, the young hatchlings emerge, usually at night when the temperature is cooler and the sand is not so hot. The baby turtles immediately head to the sea. The males will never leave the sea again. In addition some hawksbill and leatherbacks, which do not nest here, have been sighted nearby and possibly are feeding in the area.
During the nesting season, Miguel Moreno Poot with help from student interns and 
volunteers, walks the beaches recording nests, tagging females and accumulating scientific data about their environment, hatching success, behavior, distribution and abundance
A Turtle Walk is available for those interested in learning about sea turtles and enjoying the miracle of a female turtle digging her nest and laying her eggs. Some nights it is possible to see baby turtles heading to the ocean and to help those who become disoriented, usually by onshore lights, to reach the sea.
During the hatching season some baby turtles are born during the day, which is very dangerous for them. CEA´s Turtle Team holds the hatchlings and releases them with the next high tide.
By reporting their sightings, locals and tourists are joining the long-term Sea Turtle Monitoring Program to study both the immature and adult turtles feeding in the bays and on the reefs of Akumal.
Every week there is a Presentation on the CEA Turtle Watch Program, with slides of the sea turtles and a lecture about their evolution, ecology, behavior, the threats to their survival and how we can help them.
You can adopt a baby turtle or a complete nest. When the babies are released we name one after you! Join the TWP and receive your certificate of adoption and a beautiful turtle poster by Alvaro Viteri.
The TWP supports interns and volunteers. Contact us at info@ceakumal.org for more information.
Join us for the CEA Turtle Release, June - October.
| P.O. Box 13326, El Paso, Texas 79913 | |
| Telephone: | 1-915-584-3552 |
| In the U.S: | 1-800-351-1622 |
| In Canada: | 1-800-343-1440 |
| Fax: | 1-915-581-6709 |
| reservations@hotelakumalcaribe.com | |