First annotations of sea turtle nesting on the beaches of Punta Cañón, Bahía Hondita and Punta Gallinas, alta Guajira, Colombia

Abstract

In Colombia, four of the seven species of marine turtles are catalogued in danger or threatens, by their excessive consumption and the effects of the capture have taken to declare them object of Conservation. Carbones del Cerrejón has implemented in 2007 a voluntary initiative for the conservation of sea turtles, an endangered species in the high Guajira, and where the information that was available concerning the reproductive activity was compiled 15 or 40 years ago. For this reason and for the months of May to September 2009 was done during the daytime and evening tour of the beach at Punta Gallinas and Bahía Hondita, Guajira, Colombia. Objective: To link the Wayuú community in the conservation actions, register your arrival, oviposition, clutches protect and incentivize the protection of the marine ecosystem. Methodology: During daytime tours and night, was characterized and monitoring 15.73 km which corresponds to seven beaches high Guajira, where posture than three species Dermochelys coriacea, Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas confirmed and evidenced; the evidence was georeferenced for follow-up. Results: We recorded a total of 22 nesting events, of these 12 are monitored until they hatch and the remaining four by the community consumed five nests altered by manipulation and a false nest without oviposition, they are released 504 hatchlings corresponding to Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta Conclusion: Given the recent importance of the area, the data contained herein are part of the beginning of a conservation strategy with the support of fishermen and the community at large of the villages of Punta Gallinas and Bahia Hondita, permit as demonstrated in this study, the feasibility of increasing reproductive events, strengthening conservation efforts of sea turtles in the Guajira by Carbones del Cerrejón Limited Company.