Hawksbill and Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Efforts in Panama

Worldwide, threats to the existence of sea turtles are numerous and widespread. Conservation of the sea turtle species are of the upmost importance, and for a few species of sea turtle, the hawksbill and the leatherback, conservation is no more important in Panama than anywhere else. Chiriquí Beach, located just south of Bocas del Toro, is a critical nesting location for hawksbills and leatherbacks, and several past threats have threated to wipe out the turtles. Recently, an organization named the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has been working to prevent threats, such as poaching, and populations have seen a significant rebound.

Due to the highly successful impact of the STC, another beach, Soropta Beach, was given to STC for conservation, and this beach is another important beach where leatherback turtles go to lay their eggs. Conservation had originally been under the supervision of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), which had become unable to financially support conservation at the site, so priority was given to the STC. Ten years before conservation began at the site, nearly 100% of the eggs did not go on to survive, and occasionally even the adults were being killed. Today, 600 nests are conserved at the beach, and adults are allowed to emerge without the risk of being killed by poachers.

STC has now expanded and is encouraging biologists to work with the leatherback turtles on the island, and they even set up a camp for the biologists when they are doing their research. Before the 2013 nestling season, more property along Soropta Beach was purchased by the STC, and will use it to continue to improve conservation for the future. Another challenge for this organization is to bring in funding in order to support year-round protection at this new site.

The impact of poaching, and other threats that occur to sea turtles when they beach has decimated their populations to the point where they have become endangered. Organizations such as STC has allowed for effective conservation of these species, and in the future these organizations will play a critical role in keeping the populations from becoming further devastated, and perhaps they can improve the species from their current endangered status.

 

For further information, or to donate, please visit http://www.conserveturtles.org/stctmp.php.

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