Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is very fortunate to have one of the preferred lands on the Pacific Ocean for the sea turtles to come ashore and lay their eggs, mostly of the Olive Ridley type but also some Leatherback and Hawksbill. This takes place during the rainy season and goes as far as December. The biggest number of arrivals are during the nights in the rainy season.

Government, private individuals, companies, scuba diving schools and many hotels help in this task by collecting those eggs and building temporary pens in the sand to protect them until they hatch.

Once they are born they are hold and fed in sea water tanks for about 14 to 21 days before release. With this action we let them grow up a little more to try prevent its natural predators from killing them after the release. We do not want to hold them much longer to avoid creating a possible dependency from humans; doing it this way we think they will have a bigger chance for survival.

For example, in 1997 during our first year of combined efforts between authorities and private sector of our destination more than 5000 young and healthy turtles were safely released thanks to this program. In 1998 more than 7000, in 1999 more than 25000 and in the year 2000 a big record for our program when we were able to release more than 93000. Since then, year after year we continue with our job and...

We feel very proud of that !!!

Each end of the year we do a massive release as a symbolic end of our annual preservation program and as a tourist attraction for ecology consciousness. Make plans to joins us next December 31st. and help us release the little turtles in our beaches. Check "News and Events" in menu for further details.

Thanks to this praiseworthy program, maybe the next sea turtle you see was born in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo thanks to the help and effort of many people that care and want to conserve our ecology.

Sailfish is another of the sea life species that are very abundant in our waters. We'll like for you to have a great time catching one and if it's possible, please release him!!! he deserves another chance for life (the boat's captain will tell you of those than can be released with little harm done).

You can see quite a few live crocodiles (cocodrylus acutus) by Playa Linda beach in Ixtapa; they are kept in fenced pond close to the entrance (please do not feed or throw objects to them) and also by the end of Playa La Ropa beach in Zihuatanejo. This specie of crocodiles has been around our place long before the first human set foot here. It is important to mention that there are not records of an attack to persons.

If you like bird watching, you will find a great diversity of them so bring your binoculars. A popular attraction is to watch the arrival of hundreds of birds every evening (just before sunset) at the entrance of Zihuatanejo on Highway MEX-200 (between the Interstate Bus Terminal and Gas Station) where they use the electric wiring for night lodging or in "Plaza de la Libertad de Expresión" where hundreds of ravens arrive to spend the night in the trees (a very noisy event).

Garrobos (large iguanas, dark in color), Raccoons, Deer and other exotics animals can easily be seen in our countryside and even at Ixtapa Island. Because nature surrounds Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo... you will be able to look at a wide variety of wild life animals.

Don't forget to bring your camera !!!

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROGRAM 2007 July - December STATISTICS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE "OLIVE RIDLEY" SEA TURTLE AS OF... No final stats for 2007 were given by the Municipal Ecology Bureau Eggs in nests (pending birth)................................ Losses (unborn eggs, defects, death, etc.).......... Born and in care (for about 14-21 days).............. Total releases in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo................... Other Turtles (Leatherback & Hawksbill).......... Counters will vary according to the stage of each egg/little turtle

It is known that the "Olive Ridley" type turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea) reaches adulthood between the ages of 8 and 10 years old. At that time, the females will return to the beaches where they were born to lays the eggs and they will keep doing so every year until death. Because of the tremendous success of our program and to prevent future overcrowding of nest areas in our beaches, about 50% of all born little turtles are released in nearby points to the north and south of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. This action will help our ecology even more.

Curious fact: Only the females will come to dry ground once a year to lay their eggs, the males will never do it again for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, according to investigations by international ecology organizations, only 4% to 6% of the born sea turtles are capable of reaching adulthood due to the natural predators they have to affront during their growing up. Because of this, all of us must put our best efforts to assure its survival in our world by not buying products or by-products made from them.

To all of them, our super big Thanks...
	Keep up the good work in all areas!

LOCAL ECOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS...

DIRECCION MUNICIPAL DE ECOLOGIA (Municipal Bureau of Ecology) - They enforce the laws of ecology in our Municipality.