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The mission of the Tecolutla Turtle Preservation Project is to protect and to promote the population growth of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (also known as Tortuga Lora or species Lepidochelys Kempii).
The name “Kemp” comes from Richard Kemp, a Florida fisherman who discovered this species in 1880 and sent the specimen to Harvard University to be studied. Listed as Endangered under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act, and as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Kemp's Ridely is the most endangered species of all sea turtles.
In Mexico they call these turtles "Tortuga Lora". Much of their nesting takes place on the beaches near Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, where in 1947 there were an estimated 40,000 turtles in a single arribada. The population decreased dramatically over the next 40 years to only around 1000 adults in existence in 1987. Pollution, commercial shrimping nets, destruction of their nesting areas and hunting of the turtles for their meat and shells all contributed to their decline. Protection efforts such as the effort by Fernando"Papa Tortuga" Manzano in Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico, have brought about an increase in the population of the Kemp’s Ridley turtles. In addition, new laws requiring commercial shrimping boats to use a special type of netting device called a Turtle Excluder have decreased the unnecessary deaths of many sea turtles. Continued work, both onshore and off, is needed to bring numbers up to true recovery.
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News from the Nests
There are lots of things happening in Tecolutla these days! Latest reports are that there are a total of 433 nests and over 40,000 eggs! Help is also arriving with Julia Bretz, Katie Davis, and board member Lazaro Herrera joining the efforts! Follow along with the day to day events by reading Julia's blog .
TTPP Board Members
- Chairperson - Laura Kiehner
- Vice Chairperson - Lazaro Herrera
- Secretary - Vacant
- Treasurer - A. Scott Kiehner
- Board Member - Pete Bretz
- Board Member - Sid Casel
- Board Member - Tim Kerkman
- Board Member - Rob Wilson
- Board Member - Elise Wilson
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