Turtle Release and Education

Each year come visitors from around the country, foreigners and school groupsto the Tortuga Camp of Vida Millenaria.  They are attracted by the efforts of Vida Millenaria to protect sea turtles.  They want to participate in any activities at the camp which create environmental awareness.

Throughout the 2010 season:

• 12,300 people attended the camp
• Over 220 days Environmental Education Workshops were conducted

In 2011:

• 10,100 people attended the camp
• Over 280 days Environmental Education Workshops were conducted

Workshops are taught throughout the year, but most are conducted around turtle release dates.  These are mostly attended by participating schools.

Workshops are related primarily to sea turtles but they are also combined with clean-up campaigns, particularly in sections of the beach where there are greater concentrations of street vendors.  Students are motivated to participate in these activities along with group releases of baby sea turtles.

Student and adults who participate mainly come from Mexico City, Mexico State, Tlaxcala, Chihuahua, Puebla, Nuevo Leon, as well as several municipalities in the states of Xalapa, Orizaba, Veracruz, and Poza Rica. Also there are many students of primary schools in the communities of Tecolutla who participate.

In 2010:

• 3,800 turtles were released with students from 65 schools, where social work was done.
• 2,700 turtles were released with visiting Tecolutla tourism season.

In 2011:

• turtles were released with 7,240 students from 68 schools, where social work was done.
• 1,600 turtles were released with visiting Tecolutla tourism season.

- Irma Galvan