Isla Mujeres Turtles

Oh Hi! OMG how excited was I when I read about the turtle conservation area on Isla Mujeres?..Yes very!!! So off we popped in our golf buggy, like two demented world leaders, to tortugranja - (turtle farm) on the island's calmer western shore.

In the 1980´s local fisherman set up a small tortugranja and protected the islands turtle breeding ground. This now recieves modest government funding and protects over two hundred hatched turtles at anyone time.

In the distance to the left is the protected beach, and a fenced off area where wire cages are placed around the eggs that have been laid. On each cage a note of the species of turtle and the date of the egg laying is recorded then the cages are monitored for the hatchlings, they are then transfered inside.

Mmm that looks safe, it was very windy that day.


When the hatchlings are big enough not to be carried off by pelicans they are placed in three circular pools for up to a year. This will greatly increase thier chances of survival. Behind these circular pools are the sea pools that the larger turtles are transfered to.


After a year they are placed into a fenced off pool in the sea, they are tagged and monitored before their release. They now have a much greater chance of survival. Because the turtles have hatched here, they will return here to lay their eggs and those eggs and hatchlings will be protected too.


A green turtle weighing in around 300kg, looking ready to go!


In the pools...turtles being fed, looking lively.




A white turtle.




Beaky green turtle.


Throughout Latin America turtles are still killed for their meat, eggs and shell, even though they are recoginised as an endangered species.




Looking out into the Caribean sea, on the jetty by the turtle sea pools.


Very small newly hatched turtles are held in indoor open viewing tanks before going into the circular pools, this protects them from flying predators. They are super speedy.


There is also a marine life centre at the tortugranja. Here there are indoor aquariums with fish, corals and crustaceans caught by local fisherman.

How prehistoric do these look? Sadly we don't know what they are, yet.


I'm not here, ok?


The tortugranja looked well organised and the marine life looked healthy. It was amazing to see these truly beautiful creatures.