So far this year we have collected 158 turtle nests (14,298 eggs) . Total cost this year (as of today) is $2,851 with $415 in donations. Thank you to all that heave helped thus far. Peace
Vivero Totales Liberadas por Ano - Yeah!
Vivero de Tortugas El Charco Totales Liberadas por Ano
2015/2016 3,992
2016/2017 15,909
2017/2018 25,421
2018/2019 27,924
2019/2020 25,422
2020/2021 22,451
Total 121,119
End of October 2020 Update
Here is the latest 2020 update for our Vivero.
Total nests collected - 171
Total eggs collected - 13,272
Baby turtles released - 1,432
Remember at the start of this season we were just under 6,000 baby turtles to realease to reach our 100,000 baby turtles realeased landmark. We should hit that glorious goal next month!
September 2020 Update
We are off to a good start this year. As of the 22nd of September we have collected 46 nests. This year we have the help of the local soccer team in Ciudella, a community nearby, helping us with the filling of the sacks for the turtle nests. Peace and be safe.
How it all started
Our story began during our first full September living here in Salinas Grandes with our dogs in a nonstop frenzy of barking at all the activity on the beach. When I went down to check out the commotion I found locals on horseback, walking, and on bicycles with their flashlights a glare. To my surprise they were all in the hunt for turtles laying eggs. As I hung out with the locals I was watching them following the turtles on shore as they waited patiently for the eggs to be laid and covered by sand in their nests. After the turtles were finished and headed back to the sea they dug the eggs up and put them in sacks waiting for the next turtle to show up. I asked them what they were going to do with the eggs and the answer was, “Take them to the market for money, of course”. After a little research I discovered that about 10% of the eggs were being eaten by the locals and the rest were being sold.
During one of my trips to Mexico I had the opportunity to help with saving this endangered species and it was very fulfilling. I learned that 1% of the turtles would survive and in ten years make it back to the same breach to start the process again. Here in Salinas Grandes I discovered that 0% of the eggs laid would ever hatch. At this point I decided to get involved. I enlisted the help of my caretaker, and one local fisherman to save the turtles here. We paid the market rate for the eggs and soon everyone was bringing their eggs to us instead of selling them to the market. Within days we were up to our necks in turtle eggs and flying by the seat of our pants.
The next major step came when the local fisherman introduced me to La Marena. Through La Marena we became hooked up with the University and Alcadia in Leon and became an official Nicaraguan Turtle Sanctuary. Through this association we learned the best practices and assisted in more research to even better the hatch rate. From there we blossomed into the most successful turtle sanctuary in the region with the highest egg hatching success rate.
By the end of our first year we had bought over 10000 eggs and released over 8500 baby turtles back to the sea.
How it all works
Hatchery
Roof – Maya that blocks 50% of sun.
Walls – Maya for protection against crabs, raccoons, etc.
Sacks – filled with tide washed beach sand to eliminate bacteria
Secure sand from beach. This sand is free from any bacteria that may harm eggs.
Fill burlap sacks with sand in preparation for eggs. Each sack will hold 1 turtle’s eggs, between 96 and 120 eggs.
Purchase eggs from locals at a cost of 5 Cordoba’s more than the market will pay. This encourages the locals to sell us the eggs instead of bringing them to the market for sale. This also gives us the opportunity to educate them on the need to protect the turtle population for future generations. The egg buying process takes place after dusk and through the night. It is important to have the eggs back in the sand within a three hour window. It is also important to teach the locals to handle the eggs with care.
The eggs are then buried in the burlap sacks at a specified depth and covered with sand.
Each sack is marked with number of eggs, date purchased, and name of local that we purchased them from. The name of the local is important so that we can check the success percentage to ensure he is handling the eggs correctly. In showing him his name on the sack he will be more accountable. A poor success percentage and we will not buy form him in future.
After recording the info on the sacks we record in La Marena’s ledger with all the same information of date, quantity, etc.
The eggs will take 45 – 50 days to hatch. With the date being recorded we know when to start checking the eggs and to prepare for the hatching.
Each Saturday La Marena will visit the Vivero, check the status of eggs, inspect the Vivero, and sign off on the ledger.
Typically the turtles will hatch in the early morning. We then place the turtles in a shades protected area until dusk. If the turtles are let loose during the day the birds will get them once then enter the ocean.
We record the number of eggs hatched and inspect the eggs that did not hatch. All results are verified by La Marena on a weekly basis.
This process protects the baby turtles from:
Humans selling and eating eggs
Bacteria that is harmful to the eggs
Crabs, raccoons, birds, dogs, and other natural predators.
Unfortunately fish are the only natural predator that we cannot protect them from.
What it costs
2017 - 2018 Projected Expenses
Gastos Projectados
Sacos $250
Cuidador 5 meses $572
Comida para Cuidador $200
Llenando sacos $160
Huevos $3,000
Total $4,185
Donations thus far this season $500
October 2019 Update
Well folks as of October 9th we have collected 114 nests. Our goal is to hopefully collect 300 nest this year and try to pass the 100,000 baby turtles released mark. Wish us luck!
2018-2019 Final Results
Well our season is officially over and once again it was very successful. Many thanks to first and foremost Maestro Jorge Rodriguez. The manager and care taker of the Vivero. Thanks to all the students and locals that helped us and many thanks to those that contributed financially. See you again in September for the start of another season. Peace
Eggs collected - 27,924
Baby turtles released - 24,719
Success rate- 88.5%
Total cost - $5,736.00
Total Donations - $1,708.00