Top Four Sea Turtle Nesting Viewing Destinations Worldwide

Top Four Sea Turtle Nesting Viewing Destinations Worldwide
By Bruce Whittaker

Turtle nesting sites all over the world are rapidly disappearing due to human encroachment onto the beaches where they nest every year and factors like sea pollution and trawlers that kill turtles in their nets.

Local predation by humans on turtles as a food source still occurs in many places but fortunately a conservation ethic is growing as the local population realises that ecotourism can be a valuable source of income and that it is in their best interest to protect the turtles rather than eat them.

The following are the top four places worldwide where you can still find sea turtles nesting in numbers large enough that the probability of viewing them is high...

1. Florida, USA

This is one of the best places in the world to see Loggerhead turtles nesting. One beach in south Florida is the scene of over 10 000 nesting Loggerheads each year and 80% of all the nests in the USA are found in Florida.

There are five different species of sea turtle swimming around and nesting in Florida so it's an important area in their continued survival and even though strong efforts are being made to protect them the number of turtles nesting annually is still declining.

2. Bundaberg, Australia

Here the number of Loggerheads nesting is only around 300 but you have an excellent chance of seeing them because they are well protected at the Mon Repos turtle rookery. About 25 000 visit the rookery every year to watch turtles nesting and hatching. Beach access is controlled by means of a ticketing system which seems to work well.

Leatherback, Green and Flatback turtles also nest along the Bunderberg coastline but in much smaller numbers.

3. Costa Rica, Tortuguero

Tortuguero National Park is home to approximately 2500 Green sea turtles every year along a beach stretching for 22 miles.

The green sea turtle came very close to extinction here in the 1960's when virtually all the nesting females were captured and ended up in turtle soup. As a result the National Park was founded in 1970 by the Costa Rican government working closely with the CCC turtle foundation. Researchers and park guards discourage poaching and the income earned from ecotourism helps sustain the local population around the reserve which encourages them to protect the turtles too.

4. Yucatan Coast, Mexico

Turtles in Mexico are found along the Yucatán coast, in Baja Sur, on the Oaxaca coast, in Puerto Vallarta, and on Costa Alegre. The Kemps Ridley sea turtle is the most endangered of them all and the only major nesting site left in the world can be found at Rancho Nuevo in Mexico.

A collection of trip reports and reviews by past participants in sea turtle tours to view these amazing reptiles nesting.

If you want to see a specific type of sea turtle nesting this list groups the best destinations by species.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

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	Top Four Sea Turtle Nesting Viewing Destinations Worldwide By Bruce Whittaker Turtle nesting sites all over the world are rapidly disappearing due to human encroachment onto the beaches where they nest every year and factors like sea pollution and trawlers that kill turtles in their nets. Local predation by humans on turtles as a food source still occurs in many places but fortunately a conservation ethic is growing as the local population realises that ecotourism can be a valuable source of income and that it is in their best interest to protect the turtles rather than eat them. The following are the top four places worldwide where you can still find sea turtles nesting in numbers large enough that the probability of viewing them is high... 1. Florida, USA This is one of the best places in the world to see Loggerhead turtles nesting. One beach in south Florida is the scene of over 10 000 nesting Loggerheads each year and 80% of all the nests in the USA are found in Florida. There are five different species of sea turtle swimming around and nesting in Florida so it's an important area in their continued survival and even though strong efforts are being made to protect them the number of turtles nesting annually is still declining. 2. Bundaberg, Australia Here the number of Loggerheads nesting is only around 300 but you have an excellent chance of seeing them because they are well protected at the Mon Repos turtle rookery. About 25 000 visit the rookery every year to watch turtles nesting and hatching. Beach access is controlled by means of a ticketing system which seems to work well. Leatherback, Green and Flatback turtles also nest along the Bunderberg coastline but in much smaller numbers. 3. Costa Rica, Tortuguero Tortuguero National Park is home to approximately 2500 Green sea turtles every year along a beach stretching for 22 miles. The green sea turtle came very close to extinction here in the 1960's when virtually all the nesting females were captured and ended up in turtle soup. As a result the National Park was founded in 1970 by the Costa Rican government working closely with the CCC turtle foundation. Researchers and park guards discourage poaching and the income earned from ecotourism helps sustain the local population around the reserve which encourages them to protect the turtles too. 4. Yucatan Coast, Mexico Turtles in Mexico are found along the Yucatán coast, in Baja Sur, on the Oaxaca coast, in Puerto Vallarta, and on Costa Alegre. The Kemps Ridley sea turtle is the most endangered of them all and the only major nesting site left in the world can be found at Rancho Nuevo in Mexico. A collection of trip reports and reviews by past participants in sea turtle tours to view these amazing reptiles nesting. If you want to see a specific type of sea turtle nesting this list groups the best destinations by species. Article Source: Ezine Articles Created by Kaseen Cook, September 2007.

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