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Safe Nest
Network
Since 2021 we have partnered on the Forests 4 Future initiative and local communities to protect a population of the endangered Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana) from egg poaching for human consumption in west-central Colombia.
Working with >30 community members we monitored 315 nests during three breeding seasons, relocated 94 nests to artesanal incubators, and liberated 1923 turtle hatchlings. Between monitored and relocated nests we saved ~5000 turtles from poaching.
Most importantly, our work has seen a cultural shift with community members who now feel a bond with river turtles and no longer consume their eggs.
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