| First the turtles. Thousands
of Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys) turtles arrive en masse to
lay their eggs in nearby Escobilla Bay.
The nesting season usually begins in May and lasts
for several months. Although an endangered species, the turtles
come to the beach in large numbers (called arribadas) for
a few nights after a full moon.
STORY OF A SMALL TOWN
There is nothing particularly fancy here, and Puerto
Angel look like a metropolis in comparison. But everyone is eager
to share stories of how Mazunte has changed.
Before the 1960s villagers harvested enough eggs to satisfy the
local demand for food and aphrodisiacs. But commercial trade raised
the price, and the demand rose. The slaughterhouse became the town's
major source of income. A 1990 prohibition against killing sea turtles
put the breaks on the town's economy. But rather than go under,
the town shifted the economy from turtle slaughter to promotion.
TURTLE CENTER
The fishing village is now home to the National
Mexico Turtle Center (Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga),
a laboratory/aquarium dedicated to the study and protection of sea
turtles, located on the Avenida Principal.
The number of turtle nests increased from 60,000 in 1988 to nearly
700,000 in 1995 and the number continues to rise. Here is one of
Mexico's conservation success stories -- due largely to the interests
of travelers who support responsible tourism.
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