Tortuguero, spawning of the sea turtles, green turtle. Hawksbill turtle, danger of extinction, responsible tourism. [:es]
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THE PROTECTION OF THE GREEN TURTLE IN TORTUGUERO

Tortuguero is a destination recognized worldwide as an exotic and unique place, somehow sheltered from the world that has in its territory an immense natural wealth of tropical flora and fauna, very hard to beat elsewhere.

However, Tortuguero’ s main attraction is still the sight of the spawning of the sea turtles, since its beaches have the privilege of receiving every year, between July and October, the visit of one of the most important sea turtles, which are also is in danger of extinction: the green turtle.

A large and long-lived turtle in danger of extinction

The green turtle is a large size species, which owes its name to the color of the fat located underneath its shell and not precisely because of the color of its skin.  Its shell can be brown, gray, black or olive green.

Adults can reach 1.5 meters in length and can weigh between 68 and 190 kg.  Some people confuse this species with the hawksbill turtle, but it differs primarily by the shape of the mouth, which is straight and short, not as a beak, as the one of the hawksbill.

The green turtle can live up to 75 years; however, it is currently in danger of extinction due to a series of threats, including the following:

  • 1. The presence of predators. Animals such as snakes, birds, ants and other, eat the small turtles when they are traveling towards the sea. Once at sea, the turtles are also threaten by larger fish, sharks and dolphins.
  • 2. Theft of eggs. Although they are protected species, sea turtle eggs are highly sought as food so there are people who steal and sell them at the black market.
  • 3. Fishing. Often, larger turtles are caught in fishing nets, where they usually die.
  • 4. Trash and debris in the sea. Pollution threatens turtles due to the intake of marina garbage.
  • 5. Urbanization and the construction of hotel areas, which inhibits the female turtles to come to lay their eggs; also the presence of lights disorient the newborns, diverting them your way to the sea.

Visit Tortuguero and enjoy the nesting and spawning of the green turtle

For these and other reasons, the protection of the green turtle is extremely important, and hoteliers and the Tortuguero community has turned to the task of protecting this species from extinction with a series of measures during their nesting, spawning and return to the sea.

We invite you to enjoy this unique spectacle of nature through the tours that we offer at Manatus Hotel, where we practice a responsible tourism.

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