Life Cycle
Sea Turtles
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In general, the life cycle of all sea turtles is similar, with just some small differences between the different species. 6 out of the 7 species of sea turtles in the world are at risk of extinction.
conservation
For over 25 years the community of el Banco have been protecting one of the most important nesting beaches for olive ridley sea turtles on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.
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Laying
Females can lay between 80-100 eggs in a nest.
Incubation
Sea turtle eggs incubate for about 40-45 days.
Ocean Life
It can be up to 10 years before females return to their beach.
Life cycle
The Sea Turtle Journey
Laying
Each year female sea turtles return to the beach where they hatched to lay 80-100 eggs in a nest.
Incubation
Sea turtle eggs incubate for about 40-45 days before the baby sea turtles are ready to hatch.
Hatching
It can take a baby sea turtle up to three days to dig its way to the surface of the beach.
Beach Journey
During their frantic run to the sea, baby sea turtles imprint onto the magnetic signature of the beach. This is how they find their way back to the nesting beach as adults.
ocean Life
Sea turtle nesting beaches are positioned so that the currents take the babies to the feeding grounds in the ocean where they will stay until they are mature.
Beach return
It can be up to 10 years before female sea turtles return to the nesting beaches as adults to breed, and the whole sea turtle life cycle starts again.
Sea Turtle
Life Cycle
conservation
Tortugario El Banco
Community Conservation
All year round, sea turtle eggs are laid on the beach at el Banco. Members of the community bring them to the tortugarios to be incubated as part of ongoing conservation efforts.
sea turtle releases
When they hatch, the baby sea turtles are released into the Pacific Ocean, to give them a fighting chance for survival. These events, a wonder of nature, are truly spectacular experiences.
Sea Turtle Release Video
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Support Sea Turtle Conservation
Support our work
You can support our sea turtle conservation work at Estación Biológica el Banco by making a donation. All donations will go directly towards helping incubate sea turtle eggs at Tortugario el Banco and will help safeguard sea turtle populations for future generations.
sea turtle releases
Visit Estación Biológica el Banco and join a sea turtle release with the community and witness the magic for yourself. Sea turtle releases take place nearly every day of the year and form a large part of our conservation work in this part of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.