‘Turtle-Man’ protects sea turtles from poachers in Mexico

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In 2007 , Manuel Salvador Gómez Galena decided to start hunting predators of sea turtles’ eggs. Since then, he makes regular rounds at the El Carrizal beach on his quad bike, carrying bags, one lamp, and occasionally, a handgun. However, this is still not enough to stop the predators.

It is known that only 2% of sea turtles released into sea survive and return to the beach where they were born. The remaining 98% is usually killed by birds, crabs, or sharks. They may also end up tangled in a fishing net.

Traces of predators and poachers abount at the beach: Numerous turtle shells and looted nests can be seen between the bushes.

A few years ago, Manuel found two abandoned houses that had been turned into slaughter houses. Manuel was alerted of their existence by neighbors, but it was too late: When he came into one of the houses for the first time, he found them full of empty shells.

One day, a legend started going around saying that turtle eggs were afrodisiacs . “Many believed it because male turtles usually spend hours on top of the females. They thought that if they ate the eggs, their sexual performance would improve, but nothing could be further from the truth. Turtle eggs are actually very high in fat. When you eat them, they are very hard on the stomach .”

In ancient times, it was accustomed to eat sea turtle eggs in El Carrizal, though only on special occasions. On the other hand, neither the eggs nor the turtles were bought or sold.

This season, Manuel has counted 5,000 turtles that have made it into sea . The illegal trade of turtle eggs, as well as the lack of environmental protection are contributing to the depredation of the species.

Poachers usually arrive at the beach at 11 PM . In only three hours’ time, they may take between 2,000 and 3,000 eggs, an even one or two turtles.

Most poachers come from other villages and hunt for turtles in El Carrizal, Mitla, Los Moyotes, Playa Azul, and La Barra .

‘Turtle-Man’ protects sea turtles from poachers in Mexico

Photo: Salvador Cisneros Silva/EL UNIVERSAL

The poachers sell the eggs and turtle meat in the black market. A dozen of turtle eggs may cost as little as MXN$20 (one dollar), whereas a butchered turtle costs around MXN$500 (USD$26.18).

Manuel releases between 20 and 25 thousand turtles each year at his camp. However, Manuel estimates that around 10 thousand eggs are poached every month .

Collecting eggs and protecting sea turtles is not easy for Manuel, who is a member of the Guerrero Council for the Care, Protection, and Research of Sea Turtles .

On the year that he set out to protect turtles, he started with a team. However, he was informed by local villagers that some of his colleagues were selling eggs and even turtles. The following year, he decided to continue by himself.

One of the main obstacles Manuel is faced with is the indifference of local authorities, who haven’t conducted a police operation to arrest poachers since 2011, though they do fine people who set up camps at the beach, including him.

In 2015, Manuel’s camp was fined by the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and he lost his permission to collect and nest the eggs.

“The protection of sea turtles is more important to me than the law. I can’t just sit and watch as poachers take them away,” he stated.