Don't eat turtle eggs!

Most species of sea turtles today are in grave risk of extinction. One important factor in their plight is the long-held, tasty tradition of eating sea turtle eggs. Poachers dig the eggs up on the beaches during the turtle reproduction season (June to December), or they are simply harvested as the turtle drops them into a hole on the beach. In Nicaragua, a campaign against the consumption of turtle eggs was very successful at raising the consciousness of the public and decision-makers. The drawing below is the logotype for the campaign.

NO COMO HUEVOS DE TORTUGA!

Click the hatching egg for video.

In spite of the publicity generated by this successful campaign, turtle eggs can still be found on menus in restaurants. In Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, one of our neighboring businesses, just short walk from Estacion Biologica, offers turtle eggs on its menu:

This restaurant in Laguna de Apoyo serves turtle eggs, in spite of the disapproval of a wide variety of people and the law against sale of turtle eggs. Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Here, the waiter at "Monteverde" Restaurant in Laguna de Apoyo is serving turtle eggs to a client.

Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Obviously, sea turtle conservation is completely incompatible with the disgusting practice of the traffic in turtle eggs. The sale of turtle eggs should be stopped at every level, including the boycott of restaurants that continue to offer turtle eggs. We recommend a boycott of this restaurant and any other that sells turtle eggs.

Turtle eggs should be hatched on the beach, not placed on a plate to eat. Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Friends don't let friends eat turtle eggs. Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Please do not patronize businesses that sell turtle eggs! Photo Nathan Biondolino.

Sea turtles found in Nicaragua and their IUCN classifications:

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)    Endangered

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)    Critically Endangered

Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)    Critically Endangered

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)    Endangered

Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)   Endangered

What can you do to help to conserve sea turtles? Don't eat turtle eggs. Don't let your friends eat turtle eggs. Denounce all traffic in turtle eggs to the authorities. If you see any wild animal mistreatment or illegal commerce in wildlife or if you see turtle eggs on the menu in a restaurant, please contact us!

Click on the "escudo" to contact us.

Click the "escudo" to contact http://www.gaianicaragua.org/.