Thirty years ago, the colony of olive ridley sea turtles that nested annually on Nicaragua’s Astillero beach migrated four kilometers (2.5 miles) north as their old nesting site was settled by fishermen—many of whom had a taste for turtle eggs. But thanks to educational campaigns by conservation groups and the open-mindedness of residents, this Pacific coast fishing town has had a change of heart and appetite. With help from the conservation group Fauna and Flora International, the 850 families of Astillero recently built a turtle hatchery using wooden beams and black nylon netting. During the turtles’ annual arrival to lay their eggs—an event known as an arribada—community residents carefully collect the eggs at the nearby nature reserve at Chacocente Beach. They... [Log in to read more]