At the end of October 2023, Hurricane Otis devastated Mexico’s Guerrero coast. In addition to the serious toll this hurricane took on people living in its path, the affected area is a key nesting site for critically endangered leatherbacks in the eastern Pacific. The storm wreaked havoc on sea turtle hatcheries, putting regional leatherback recovery efforts at risk.
Hurricane Otis devastated sea turtle hatcheries and other structures on the beach in Guerrero, Mexico. (Photos courtesy of GroBios)
As a member of the Eastern Pacific Leatherback Conservation Network, Wild Earth Allies leveraged our Wild Fund to provide emergency support to GroBios, an organization that protects biodiversity in Guerrero, Mexico. With the leatherback nesting season underway, GroBios is using this funding to rebuild vital sea turtle conservation infrastructure.
Leatherbacks Thrive in the Hurricane’s Wake
GroBios and its collaborators have worked tirelessly since the storm to restore sea turtle hatcheries, camps, and other critical structures. On the beaches of Guerrero, piles of trash and pieces of glass from hotel windows remain in the sand. But amidst the reconstruction, new life is emerging.
With the support of GroBios, conservation initiatives in Guerrero have made impressive progress so far this nesting season:
- 99 leatherback hatchlings released
- 3,211 eggs under incubation
- 71 leatherback nests protected
Wild Earth Allies is proud to support GroBios’ rebuilding efforts and help ensure the recovery of the eastern Pacific leatherback population.
A female leatherback nests on a beach in Guerrero, Mexico on New Year’s Day 2024. (Photo courtesy of GroBios)
The Wild Fund in Action
In 2017, Wild Earth Allies launched the Wild Fund, a dynamic initiative to resource urgent conservation efforts. The recent impact of Hurricane Otis highlights the fund’s crucial role in supporting rapid response in times of crisis. With biodiversity under unprecedented stress, it’s vital to enhance our ability to take nimble, collaborative action and to adapt and scale up for greater impact.
Please help us reach our bold $25 million Wild Fund goal. Your gift will fuel protection efforts today and help build a legacy of support for the vital work of our field teams and partners.
Cesar Arroyo, GroBios Director, prepares to release a leatherback hatchling. (Photo courtesy of GroBios)