Sea turtles in El SalvadorSea turtles are so beautiful and can live for so long it's hard to believe that they are in danger of extinction and to think that their main threat is human behaviour...  Custom Search Some of the turtles seen in El Salvador's coasts are the Green Sea turtle (Verde Marina), the Leatherback (La Baula), the Olive Ridley (La Golfina) is more common. Even the critically endangered Hawksbill (Tortuga Carey) can be found in the region (pictured below) Slowly, Salvadoreans are becoming more aware of the grave situation of these wonderful sea creatures. And recently, several organizations have began spearheading conservation projects and setting up new mechanisms and strategies to monitor and protect their nests. 
In an effort to protect the endangered sea turtles, a new conservation initiative was launched to help especially the Eastern Pacific Hawksbill sea turtles.For this purpose alone, prominent investigators from other Central and South American countries as well as the United States - experts in their field of conservation and management of marine turtles - came together to share their knowledge and expertise. Held in the Los Cóbanos Natural Protected Area In El Salvador, it was named the “First Workshop of the Hawksbill Turtle in the Eastern Pacific”. A report from FUNZEL (Fundación Zoólogica de El Salvador) mentioned that it was decided to hold this first workshop in El Salvador because recent findings indicate that the country hosts the greatest abundance of Hawksbill nesting in all of the Eastern Pacific, particularly in Bahía de Jiquilisco, in the eastern part of the country. Here is what Alexander Gaos of Pro Peninsula (USA) and who was elected as the regional representative for the Hawksbill Initiative during the meeting had to say:
It was mentioned that more than 160 nests were registered in El Salvador in 2007, that’s more than 65% of all the nestings reported for Hawksbills in the entire region! Here is the video of their visit to Bahía de Jiquilisco and their mission. The video is in Spanish but you can "hear" their excitement as they speak about their mission and work. Conservation StrategiesOne of the conservation strategies implemented by FUNZEL is to buy back the eggs that have been harvested and are being sold in the market. They then take the sea turtle eggs to a sanctuary or "farm" when they are put back on the ground, given time to hatch and then the baby turtles are returned back to the ocean. 
Just during October of this year, 146 Hawksbill baby turtles were let free in the beaches of Maculis and Conchagua in La Unión - on the Eastern end of the country bordering Nicaragua; hopefully, in years to come, they will return to lay their eggs here again. You can see them being freed in the picture here.Because of all the nesting turtles that have been registered in El Salvador and for all the other work and efforts being put forth to save endangered sea turtles, These are great efforts to save just one species on the endangered marine turtles list. But regardless of where we live, we can all do something to help protect them:
El Salvador's rich eco system lends itself to great adventures like Kayaking in Bahía de Jiquilisco or Barra de Santiago and maybe, just maybe, you might catch that rare sight of a Hawksbill sea turtle! Click here to find out more about El Salvador's beaches. We will continue to follow the progress of our little flappy friends, so please visit it us again soon, or register for our blog and/or sign up for our free newsletter! (sign up box is on the left hand side) Find more information on threats faced by these creatures.
Return from Sea Turtles to El Salvador Beaches Return to Home Page photo credit - baby Hawksbill turtles: El Diario de Hoy, www.elsalvador.com
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