In a remarkable comeback for the world’s smallest and most endangered sea turtle, a record-breaking 24 Kemp’s ridley nests have been spotted in Florida in 2024, as reported by Fox 35 News. This surge in nests is a beacon of hope for the future of these precious creatures.
The 2024 increase in Kemp’s ridley nests is more than double the number of nests recorded in 2023. These sea turtles, who can grow up to 2 feet long and weigh 70 to 100 pounds, commonly nest in Mexico, but they can also be found more sparingly in the United States in states like Texas and Florida.
At one time, most Kemp’s ridley turtles laid their eggs on one particular beach in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. Architect Andreas Herrera discovered the nesting site in 1947 and filmed the astounding sight. But sadly, poachers had also found the beach.
“Scientists reviewing the footage in the 1960s saw people taking the turtles’ eggs as they were laid and loading them by the millions into trucks,” the National Park Service (NPS) wrote about that fateful day. “Some of the nesting females were also taken. The scientists estimated that 90% of the turtle nests were destroyed the same day they were laid.”
Mexico’s proactive steps to protect the sea turtles, including passing laws and deploying security, were instrumental in the conservation efforts. The U.S. later joined Mexico on a project intended to help conserve the species. Unfortunately, since a setback in 2010, the number of nests has been inconsistent.
For comparison, 1,795 nests of leatherback turtles — another endangered sea turtle species — were found in Florida in 2024. However, the significant increase in Kemp’s ridley nests for 2024 is still something to be celebrated.
Lady Freethinker applauds the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and everyone who is doing what they can to save the world’s rarest sea turtle and help them thrive again.
