Abstract

RESTREPO-GARZON, Nicolás et al. Conservation of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Rincón del Mar, Colombia. Bol. Invest. Mar. Cost. [online]. 2021, vol.50, n.2, pp.53-72.  Epub Dec 03, 2021. ISSN 0122-9761.  https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2021.50.2.1066.

The conservation and nesting ecology of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) are described, as a result of a systematic monitoring between 2018 and 2019 in the municipality of Rincón del Mar, San Onofre, Sucre. Six hawksbill turtle nests were recorded in situ, one nest was poached by humans. The nesting female spawned a total of 761 eggs in five clutches (mean 152.2 ± 15.5 eggs per clutch). Mean hatching success was 78.2 ± 12.4 % and the mean emergence success was 74.7 ± 14.1 % (n = 5). The mean incubation period was 54 ± 7.8 days (n = 4). 591 hatchlings were released into the sea, of which 22 (3.72 %) were rescued and released with the community. In addition, physical measurements of the nests (width, depth, distance to the beach) and morphometric measurements of the hatchlings (SCW, SLC and weight) were carried out. Finally, 14 natural and anthropogenic threats were identified for the species in Rincón del Mar and different degrees of threat, according to the beach sector, being high, medium and low for Chichimán, Ana Gómez and Balsillas with Punta Gorda respectively. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the current status of the hawksbill turtle, as well as the importance of the community participation, systematic and standardized monitoring, and the urgency of generating plans and management units for their conservation in Rincón del Mar.

Keywords : hawksbill turtle; conservation; nesting ecology; hatching success; Colombian Caribbean..

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