Much has been said about the declining turtle population around the world but on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic in 2013 there has been an increase turtle activity.
In 2008 two turtles nested on the crowded Cabarete Beach and were protected by the Medio Ambiente until they hatched.
These were Leatherback turtles and over a hundred baby turtles returned to the sea.
In 2013 a nesting occurred outside Millennium Hotel on Cabarete Beach on 21st May and hatched on the 19th July with 40 to 50 making it to the sea.
On Perla Marina beach this year turtle tracks were seen early in the morning, one on the 9th June and one on 23rd June.
The first tracks are closely packed and might indicate a smaller turtle than a Leatherback and raises the possibility of it being a Hawksbill turtle which is critically endangered.
The second on 23rd June was further up the coast towards Cabarete and the tracks of this turtle seemed different for the previous one.
The differences in the tracks were noticeable and probably indicate a Leatherback Turtle.
These are considered endangered but not critically.
On 25th July near to the full moon on Perla Marina beach, a totally unknown nest some 30 meters from the first nest, hatched with over 60 baby turtles making it to the sea.
The turtles return
These looked like Hawksbill turtles and the nest was probably laid in late April or early May.
The last two stragglers were helped to the sea.
This is the fourth Turtle sighting in about 5km of beach in 2013 so the turtles are returning to the North Coast!
