Sea Turtle Protective Rights in Panama

Hatchling Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea Sea Turtles

Everybody loves baby sea turtles. Barely the size of your palm, adorable and innocent, with a look of pure determination as they clumsily waddle their way to the ocean, excited to live a long life of about 100 years, they are impossibly cute and instill a deep sense of hope in your soul as you watch them guided by their instincts.

The first nest of the season just hatched last week so we are now on call for turtle hatching duty with our guests. Hatching typically during the coolest part of the night, means early mornings to assist them to sea. Releasing the hatchlings just before the sun comes up gives them their best chance to safely make it to the ocean evading land predators like humans, dogs, coyotes, birds, and crabs. Sadly, it's a long list, and the odds of the turtles making it to maturity are alarmingly low.

What all those predators don't know is that those sweet little animals are protected by law. We're not just talking being protected by the endangered species act, or local beach laws, which are also very important, this is serious business and it's an impressive act of conservation by a small country like Panama to make such a stand and a be an inspiring example to the rest of the world.

Female Sea Turtle Making Her Way to the Beach After Nesting

As of March 2023, Panama stood out from the rest of the world by granting a species-specific Rights of Nature law. "Law 371. Means sea turtles are recognized as living beings with legal protective rights. Under this law they have the right to live, and move freely in a healthy environment. Their environment shall allow them to live free from pollution, threats like bycatch, coastal development, unregulated tourism, illegal trade, and climate change. It requires Panama to adopt certain measures, regulate harmful practices, and ensure the needs and interests of sea turtles are considered in policy and governance." Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.

Panama was the first country in the world to pass this species-specific law for sea turtles, and one of only 40 countries (there are 195 in the world) that enacted the Rights of nature law in 2022. That's an impressive accomplishment. Standing up for one's rights is hard no matter where you are, but it's especially hard when you're nature. This new law was a triumphant day for the team of conservationists and environmental lawyers that fought hard for it but also, we hope, a major shift in the conscientiousness of Panama and the focus of protecting it's most beautiful and sustainable resource - nature.

Join us for an educational baby sea turtle release. Teach the next generation

You might be wondering why we place the baby turtles on the beach and make them waddle to the water rather than taking them to the ocean. There's a lot of reasons for this purpose driven waddle and we would love to share this memorable moment with you! Sea turtle nesting season goes through February so, make your reservation with us and we'll share this incredible experience with you.

With love from Morrillo,

Cari and Ryan Mackey

Owners & hosts