Olive Ridley Turtles

As thousands of turtles arrive at a beach in Oaxaca, Mexico, to lay their eggs this season, federal and local authorities have been deployed to protect them against poachers.
As the turtles nest on the Pacific coast, Mexican Navy patrols keep watch and a group of at least five biologists tirelessly keeps records on the number of nests and the eggs they contain.
Each turtle deposits around 100 eggs each time she clambers ashore.
La Escobilla has been declared a natural protected area to prevent poaching of the Golfina, (gol FEEN ah) or Olive Ridley, turtles.
The turtles left about 1.3 million eggs in La Escobilla last year and biologists expect a similar number this year. One of the turtle guides says the site is the most important in the world.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Sostenes Rodriguez, Turtle Guide: "This is the most important beach for marine turtle nesting in the world, it's above Costa Rica and India "
The turtles arrive in eight to ten waves between June and December. Each arrival can bring from 50-thousand to 70-thousand turtles.
Due to protective measures, populations of Golfina have increased, and theyre now classified as vulnerable, while the Leatherback, or Laud turtle is still critically endangeredaccording to the Turtle Center, there were only 100 nests built world-wide last year.
Both species were hunted for decades-- their eggs taken for sale or eaten. But in 1990, a law banned hunting and the sale of eggs and turtle meat in Mexico.
Officials have also run public information campaigns to discourage poaching.
Despite the law, environmental officials say the animals are still targeted.
At La Escobilla beach, locals formed a cooperative to serve as guides and help protect the Golfina.
Once they sold eggs and turtle meat. Now they understand that protecting their former prey can be far more profitable.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Sostenes Rodriguez, Turtle Guide: "We are very aware that the more we take care of this, the longer it's going to last."
The Turtle Sanctuary is open to tourists, who take boat tours into the Pacific to see the turtles swim in their natural habitat.

I was extremely excited when I found this article because unlike many of the current events posted, this one was actually positive. Biologists have been keeping track of the Golfina turtles and how many eggs have been laid on a beach in Oaxaca, Mexico. Even the Mexican Navy are on patrol to protect the area since apparently the turtles meat and eggs were sought for profit. This careful management of this beach and turtle protection has led to the Golfina species of turtle to be considered only "vulnerable" instead of endangered, unlike many of it's other relatives. However, the article states that there is hope, that as long as people are aware that these turtles need watching over, they will be able to survive.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090918-mexico-golfina-turtles-video-ap.html