---
Next month, Siete Quillas Grupo Tortuguero San Juan will spearhead a community fundraising initiative to aid leatherback turtles nesting in Puerta de Tierra, Condado, and Ocean Park, extending up to the Último Trolley.
Aiming to showcase the advancements made in conserving the endangered leatherback, the largest marine turtle species globally, the group is inviting the community to partake in the festivities marking the end of the 2024 nesting season and the onset of the leatherback arrivals, spanning from February to July of this year.
“In the previous year, we had the presence of five leatherbacks that created 12 nests along Condado and Ocean Park, each containing between 60 and 100 eggs. Due to the safeguarding of these nests and the beach, around 500 hatchlings were released and assisted on their journey to the ocean,” shared Hilda Benítez, founder and executive director of Siete Quillas. “It will take over a decade for at least one of these hatchlings to return to our shores to nest on the beach where it was born.”
To celebrate these accomplishments, as well as to show appreciation to the volunteers, sponsors, and the broader community, “we will gather on Tuesday, February 18, starting at 6 p.m., in the picturesque locale of La Concha hotel in Condado, a venue that has become a significant supporter of species protection and offers access to one of the nesting beaches,” Benítez noted.
“I encourage businesses to step up as sponsors of the event and invite everyone to join in for a magical evening with a suggested donation of $75,” she continued. “The funds raised will assist in covering the costs necessary for procuring equipment and supplies for nighttime patrols, beach cleanups, educational talks, and volunteer training.”
For more details, you can reach out via email at: sietequillas@gmail.com.
“It will be an extraordinary vigil that will allow us to share stories and raise funds to sustain our efforts in protecting these marine turtles, which journey from afar to lay their eggs on our beach,” Benítez expressed. “This phase is vital for the leatherbacks, and with some luck, we may even see them that evening.”
