PANAMÁ, THE CALL OF NATURE

RAThree species of turtles in extinction danger annually arrive at Panamanian coasts to fulfill the cycle of life.

Every year they meet in Panamanian beaches. They arrive quiet with an objective and they do not leave until to have fulfilled its task of laying thousands of eggs that, between 45 and 60 days later will become small turtles that will run towards the sea as soon as they touch the sand.

In this race the young turtles are vulnerable to the attack of crabs, mammals and birds. With luck, they will survive 20 years to return like adult turtles to the beach where they were born and to initiate the cycle of life again.

After digging a hole with its back fins, they lay eggs in it and soon they cover the nest with sand, moving itself over it. Before leaving, they advance about one meter and they make a false mark similar to which is in its nest, with the hope to confuse the predators. Fascinating, isn't it?
well it is only a look to this wonderful phenomenon of the nature.

Every year, the arrival of the first turtle marks the beginning of the season of egg-laying in sites such as la Marinera beach the at Guánico (in the district of Tonosí, Los Santos Province), Caña Island (to the south of Azuero), Malena Beach in Mariato (in the south of Veraguas Province) and Barqueta Beach (in Alanje, Chiriquí Province).

The turtles - animal in danger of extinction- that arrive here are the turtle caguama or loro(Caretta Caretta) and the golfita turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea). In 2008, thousands of turtles of these species laid millions of eggs in Panamanian coasts.

Environmentalist groups and conservationist in Panamá, have the arduous work to preserve these species. From the beginning of the season of egg-laying, the volunteers initiate the work to watch day and night the places where the turtles lay eggs, so they move the eggs to artificials nest of one meter of depth, previously dug by the volunteers away from the beach waves.

Like in the natural process, the eggs are covered with sand; next to the nest is placed a wood stake with the date of egg-laying and the probable date in that they will be born.

In some sites, barriers are placed as cyclone fences to prevent that predators like dogs, some birds and humans. When finishing the period of incubation, the volunteers attend the small turtles, from the moment at which they leave the nest, until they initiate a race towards the sea.
Sometimes manage to approach them few meters of the sea, being reduced therefore the danger to be attacked by the predators.

Every year, Panamá receives in its coasts this visit, waited for with anxieties by local visitors and loving foreigners of the nature and the eco-tourism. The efforts by the conservation of the species continue and continue growing year after year.

For more information visits: www.marviva.net  and www.anam.gob.pa