Billion Baby Turtles Update - April 2025
This new year we are very excited because we can continue supporting most of our current partners and some new projects coming soon. In addition, we expect to pass the 20 million baby turtles saved milestone this year, stay tuned for an announcement coming soon!
With a total of US $23,000, our grants for the first quarter of this year we expect to help save an estimated 57,000 baby turtles. Our first 2025 grants are:
PAMALi, Indonesia
PAMaLi Indonesia is a nonprofit organization focused on sea turtle conservation. Their nest protection program on Denawan Island uses both in situ and hatchery methods. Nests at high risk of disturbance from humans or animals (e.g., poaching, shell trade, sand mining, bycatch, plastic pollution) or natural threats (e.g., marine debris, beach erosion, predators) are relocated to the hatchery. All hawksbill nests are relocated due to their vulnerability. For green turtles, 60% of nests are in situ and 40% are ex situ. With $5,000 in funding this year, the program aims to help almost 20,000 baby turtles reach the ocean.
Photos: PAMALi
Equipo Tora Carey, El Jobo, Costa Rica
Established in 2015, Equipo Tora Carey (ETC) is a successful collaboration between fishermen, local tourism operators, and biologists working to protect sea turtles near Punta Descartes. Despite facing numerous challenges over the years, ETC's commitment to marine turtle conservation remains strong. Currently, local residents patrol five different beaches nightly, safeguarding approximately 250 olive ridley, black, and sporadic hawksbill nests. SEETurtles has partnered with ETC since 2018, and this season, Billion Baby Turtles has granted US $2,000 to encourage the community's ongoing dedication to turtle conservation.
ProNatura, Yucatán, Mexico
ProNatura safeguards 3 of the Yucatan Peninsula's most vital nesting beaches, including Celestun and Holbox, which are key hawksbill nesting sites. The field season spans from early April to late October, during which the team surveys 79 km nightly to document female turtles and nests. They also conduct educational visits to local schools. Last season, the 3 beaches saw a total of 3,229 hawksbill nests, 4,331 green turtle nests, and 5 leatherback nests. With US $7,000 in funding this season, the Billion Baby Turtles initiative aims to support over 20,000 hatchlings reaching the ocean.
Turtle Love Project, Playa Tres, Costa Rica
Playa Tres, the second most important nesting beach for green turtles in Costa Rica, is also home to leatherback and hawksbill turtle nesting. A conservation project run by Turtle Love protects these nests. Between March and October 2024, the Turtle Love team patrolled the beach and protected 768 green turtle nests, 68 leatherback nests, and 5 hawksbill nests. Due to the team's work, the illegal taking of nests has been reduced from 31% in 2022 to an average of 13% in 2023-2024 for both protected species. The US $4,000 Billion Baby Turtles plan will support the protection of almost 15,000 baby turtles through this partner.
Provita, Paria Gulf, Venezuela
For almost two decades, Provita has partnered with Clemente Balladares' leadership to protect marine turtles in Venezuela, with a focus on the critically endangered hawksbill turtle. During the 2024 season, Provita safeguarded 105 hawksbill and 10 leatherback nests, maintaining illegal nest collection below 7%, which is the primary threat in the region. Billion Baby Turtles' contribution of US $4,000 supported this project, and this support is expected to enable the protection of over 1,000 critically endangered hawksbill hatchlings in the upcoming season.
Photos: Clemente Balladares
Mexiquillo, Michoacán, Mexico.
Mexiquillo beach was once a vital nesting site for leatherback turtles in Mexico and the Pacific basin during the 1980’s. However, the leatherback population has drastically declined since then. In the current 2024-2025 season, 65 leatherback nests have been protected. SEETurtles aims to support a successful end of the season at this beach by providing US $1,000.