Baby turtle season began in Colombia’s Bahia Solano – an unforgettable experience allowing tourists to take part in the preservation of a species on the brink of extinction.
Environmentalist and hotel owner Cesar Isaza, manager of the El Almejal Ecolodge in the department of Choco, started the Golfina Project 15 years ago. The initiative enables tourists to adopt a turtle and then release it into the wild.
Since it’s conception in 1994, the project has seen approximately 75,000 newborn turtles released. The turtles then return to the beaches they were hatched as adults to then lay their own eggs, reported newspaper El Colombiano Tuesday.
The Golfina turtles, as with most species across the world, are in danger of extinction due to the disappearance of their beaches as well as contamination of the sea waters they reside and feed in.
Tourists visiting the region are encouraged to participate in and support the release process of these turtles during the season which extends until mid-Janurary 2010. It promises to be a unique experience that will greatly contribute to the protection and preservation of an extradorinary creature.
A Bahía Solano is serviced by airlines ADA y Satena and costs vary according to availability. Golfina tourist rates start from 475,000COP and the tourist program offers three nights for 705,000COP per person.
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