A Turtle’s Rescue and Release Story in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point)

It was a cool October morning when we received the call from ZOFEMAT (the local animal rescue agency). An Olive Ridley turtle was found at Playa Hermosa. She had gone out at night to lay her eggs and looked tired and had some wounds on her fins. This turtle was probably born here and came back so that her babies would also be from Rocky Point. She was so tired that she was unable to return to sea. The neighbors and visitors informed the authorities who initiated the rescue by calling CEDO Intercultural.

We went to examine the turtle, who was exhausted and had minor injuries and who, undoubtedly, needed to rest in a protected place before returning to sea.

The team moved her to our Agustin Cortés Building at the CEDO campus where she was kept for hours under observation before being released.

CEDO’s team and our family accompanied the turtle back to the sea. It was an awesome experience for us and our sons and daughters. Thanks to the CEDO Intercultural team for your passion and dedication to your work and thanks to all of YOU who support our efforts. Your donations write our history!

• Abelardo Castillo: Veterinary and Geographer, Associate Specialist at CEDO, former Director of the Miguel Alvarez del Toro Zoo in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas.
• Paloma Valdivia: Biologist specializing in turtle physiology and ecology and now CEDO Education and Communications Manager.
• Aldemaro García: Infrastructure Manager at CEDO, Rocky Point native.
• Humberto González Veliz: Marine Biologist, ZOFEMAT Supervisor.
• Our children: Gala Solis, Joan Loreto Castillo, Luis Enrique Gaxiola, Marina Gaxiola, Noah Solis.

Nélida Barajas, Executive Director.