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mexico is a nesting ground for at least five out of seven sea turtle species worldwide between the months of may to september in the popular vacation towns of tulum and cancun endangered turtles like the loggerhead and green turtles are setting up nests on the beach volunteers like the one in our next film aurora dawn patrol the nest to make sure every baby turtle makes it to safety their sanctuary is one of the largest in the country so come along to see what it takes to help protect a species at the brink of extinction this is aurora dawn from filmmakers emilio alvarez and daniel mendoza in the afternoon we count the eggshells and rescue turtles that get stuck at the bottom of the nests
most of them have barely a few hours outside of the egg and getting them out to safety until nightfall is their only chance to ever reach the sea sometimes we have to dig around three feet deep to find them and even though a lot of them don't make it it's worth the effort at the camp we patrol the beaches every night in the search of sea turtles that come to nest so we can have an accurate record of all the specimens that come to scarcel each year you can be burned out but being surrounded by everyone getting ready somehow lifts your spirits
you walk through the beach feeling the sand on your feet the wind in your face hoping for it to be a windy night that keeps the mosquitoes away you feel connected to the sea the stars and wait for the first sea turtles of the night to appear loggerhead and green sea turtles come to the shores of castle to nest both endangered species some can take over two hours nesting and can lay more than 120 eggs the immense effort forces them to stop constantly but only to take a deep breath and carry on with the termination we don't just take measurements we also protect them from any adverse situation that could happen along the way to witness how they end in these beaches such a long and rough journey always
leaves me in all they're completely free they go wherever they want through the vast ocean however they always come back they never forget their home to be part of this program you have to be able to adapt sleep little have odd schedules but it's easier when you're a company we're volunteers of all ages and all parts of mexico who have come together to put all our energy in the protection of this natural sanctuary is a very attractive place for tourism and even though it's a natural protected area it is constantly endangered by resorts and real estate firms that's why this conservation project is so important
at dusk when fragger birds leave the newborn sea turtles can hatch safely on one side the immensity on the other the tenderness of the newborn sea turtles going towards the sea it's incredible to see how it all coexists in the same space for every thousand sea turtles that cross the beach only one will come back as an adult but that doesn't stop them they just hatched they're new in this world and they go straight to adventure to the toughest and longest journey of their lives the sea rolls them over but they keep fighting to get to their destination
guided by the moonlight that perseverance is inspiring the nights are always long and exhausting but all this tiredness disappears with dawn and you feel part of the landscape you can't stop thinking about the little sea turtles and the journey they just started deep down you feel very happy for them and you feel proud for the work you've done a new day begins and you know you're doing the right thing
