Carolina Castillo Hernandez a regular volunteer.
God’s Grace, Conservation, Nature, and You.
If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that God has a plan for everything. Like a well designed puzzle, you may not see how all the pieces fit at first, but if you believe and you have faith, the image will start to shape and his plan will be revealed. It was a simple choice to take an elective arts class tagged photography 101, that introduced me to the camera and lens. I discovered I have a passion and an eye for finding and capturing the beauty of nature. All of my images are not award winning, however I can tell the story with God’s grace as he puts opportunity in front of me and around me. When I look back over the last three years I am not only humbled beyond words, to have had the opportunities that I have had to capture nature but I clearly see how his hand has helped guide my journey.
It was through conversation about my photography and what I wanted to accomplish with it, that led to an invitation to hold a photography exhibit in Cozumel at the Galeria de la Casa de la Cultura Ixchel. It was an opportunity to showcase nature thru my lens, and how I see us all connected and dependent on one another. It has nurtured and encouraged my commitment to conservation and God’s world.
I committed to give a percentage of all my sales for that quarter, to the Turtle Restoration Program in Cozumel. I have experienced first hand the impact their program has had on bringing back the turtle population. As a scuba diver for over 25 years, turtles are a big score when you see them in the wild, in nature in their habitat. There are more to see now, than when I started diving. I was excited to see where this commitment would go, no expectations, just a desire to pay it forward.
During the week I was in Cozumel for my photography exhibit I attended a turtle hatching twice. I met a few of the great people who are committed to this program and its success. It was about a 20 minute ride from the Conservation center out to the Punta Sur Eco Park. During that time I talked with a few of the volunteers and enjoyed every part of the ride as they shared their experiences and love for the turtles.
Shores of the southern tip of the Island of Cozumel. Punta Sur Echo Park, waiting for dark.
South shore of the Island of Cozumel. Punta Sur Light House is in the background.
The green stakes mark the shoreline with nests. The stakes are dated and numbered so they can track the nesting times. Some are close to the water, others are back up into the brush that lines the shore. Once we arrived, the volunteers spread out and each has a role. Some, are simply picking up garbage that has washed ashore from the endless rounds of cruise ships. They have removed tons of plastic and debris from the beaches. Others look for stakes with dates that would indicate a possible hatch. Then with the skill that comes with the love of the turtle they have long rods they use to poke into the ground looking for the nests. Once found, they then dig out a path for the turtles, and with a little help they excavate them from the nests and collect them in coolers until dark and they can be released. They don’t release until after dark so the birds can not swoop in and snack. If they can’t see them, they won’t get them.
Meet Carolina Castillo Hernandez. I asked her why she volunteers? She Replied, “I love nature, I feel like this is my mission. I come 4 to 5 times a week during the turtle season to help”.
Turtles out of the nest being counted. Before they go to the cooler to wait for release.
Meet Carlos Ricardo Peralta Muñoz. Known as Ricardo he is a project manager with a Biology background and the Technical manager of the Punta Sur sea turtle program. I spent time with Ricardo and asked many questions.
Eggs, that have hatched, or are dead or broken are all counted, and then they are all returned to the nest and burred again.
As they hatch, the sand sticks to their wet bodies eventually they dry off and the sand falls off.
Meet Jonathan Alfredo Solis Sanchez. When I asked Jonathan why he volunteers he replied, “I feel I need to help take care of the turtles. I feel conservation is important, I come every day I can during the season”.
Meet Julio Cesar Contrenas Flores. When asked why he comes, his response was, “I like it, I love the turtles. I feel it is very important. It is important to protect nature. No one is doing it. We need to be responsible for nature”. Julio comes out to help 4 to 5 times a week as well during the turtle season.
Each nest is counted, all the eggs, broken, hatched, rotten etc. are logged and tracked. The data is collected and used for further research. I can tell you that broken eggs, baked in the warm sand have a horrendous stench. The only way to get to the eggs that are an arms length away in a hole in the ground is to at times get your shoulder and head practically in the hole as well. Not easy! Add the mosquitos, heat and sand and it is purely an act of love to come out consistently and be a part of the program.
Carlos Ricardo Peralta Muñoz is busy digging out one of the first nests of the day. The pole used to find the nest is in the sand next to the green marker.
My job was to take the turtles from them and put into the coolers, while we waited for dark to release them. I was so inspired by these volunteers who clearly love what they are doing, and are committed to the turtle program. They are making a difference. I got to get down in the sand and see first hand the process and what it takes. We talked about the obstacles and challenges for the program. I could see their commitment to the turtles. We worked to free the hatchlings and make a safe path to the ocean. A path free of land and air predators, knowing that the harsh reality of nature is brutal. The odds are stacked against the babies. Out of the hundreds that make it to the water, we would be lucky if a handful would see the morning sunrise. Because once in the water, they are even more vulnerable than on land with the birds, snakes, raccoons, iguanas, pigs, and others looking for a snack. Their struggle is real.
Jonathan Alfredo Solis Sanchez has a lot of courage and determination. To put your hand down into a dark hole to feel around for hatching turtles was something I did not try.
Carolina Castillo Hernandez Jonathan Alfredo Solis Sanchez
Volunteers spread out attending to nests.
Me, having the time of my life participating in a turtle hatch. Checking off a bucket list must do, giving back, paying it forward and grateful for the people supporting my photography and buying my work and services. We are helping to make a difference. God is good.
A rapidly filling cooler as the nests are being emptied. Turtles will be released at dusk.
Another job was to find the optimum release site and build a path in the sand that would keep the turtles on a straight course for the ocean. It would also help the volunteers secure a smaller area for the turtles from predators looking for a snack. It would help keep the birds away by lining the path to the ocean with the volunteers.
The turtles were released at the top of the path so they would naturally experience the long hike to the water. This would keep the process as natural as possible. The side sand rails were built to help with the natural direction toward the ocean, but as you can see some babies still wanted to take the path least traveled.
In my conversations with Ricardo, he shared some fun facts about the program.
- 2018 they charted 659 nests
- 2019 they charted 1617 nests
- They have an average of 5 volunteers per visit to the Punta Sur Echo Park, they go to harvest the turtles 5 nights a week
- The volunteers are all ages, all backgrounds, from high school and college students, graduates, community service, general public
- Nesting season runs from late April – mid November
- They chart the total nests, the total clutch of eggs, survival rates, predatory activity and species.
- Cozumel has the loggerhead and green sea turtles.
- For every 200 nests released they average 24000 hatchlings.
- The program is sponsored by revenue from the parks and donations by private citizens.
- Donations needed are rechargeable batteries, permanent markers, headlights, nitrile gloves and more
- The state of Quintana Roo collects the information gathered for research.
Their biggest challenge
Pollution and climate change, affects the overall ecosystem of the Island.
Educating and letting people know that their actions on the island have consequences.
Thanks to my customers for all the card sales, print and image sales and purchases for photography services. We were able to give the program several hundred dollars to purchase needed supplies. Plus, I purchased over 60 batteries and donated them to the program when I delivered the cash donation. We also purchased 10 meal certificates and Ricardo distributed them to his 10 core group of volunteers that help make the program possible. What an awesome first attempt at utilizing my nature photography for conservation and paying it forward. All made possible by YOU my customers.
The conservation center – home to the turtle program.
Elda Berebice Pech Chan – a core volunteer to the program. Photo courtesy of Ricardo.
Jonathan Alfredo Solis Sanchez – core volunteer Photo courtesy of Ricardo.
Juan Ramon Guzman Turriza – core volunteer and rookie to the program Photo courtesy of Ricardo.
Carolina Castillo Hernandez and Julio Cesar Contreras Flores – core volunteers Photo courtesy of Ricardo.
As God’s plan unfolded and pieces of the puzzle came together, and this story emerged, I couldn’t help but think of the journey. I’m so thankful for all of the opportunities that presented themselves to make this all possible. I know that the world is big and this was like one grain of sand on the beach. But we must start somewhere and we must always be working for nature through conservation. By acknowledging the volunteers and their hard work with a meal, it could be helping to lay out God’s plan for them. Knowing that they are appreciated from folks who are connected thru nature, has to be a feel good moment. Nature belongs to us all. I think of the experience often and take comfort in knowing that nature has no borders. With God all things are possible.
Like the turtle on the beach with his destiny laid out before him, we must all move toward ours with courage and determination against all odds. With God’s grace, conservation, nature and you we can and will make a difference.
