Amazon’s Indigenous Women Track and Save Endangered River Turtles
In the Ecuadorian Amazon, seven indigenous women from the Siekopai tribe are making a remarkable stand to protect the endangered yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles. The group, who have named themselves 'Tari Nomiowa’i' (Turtle Women), are making a difference in conservation efforts by blending traditional ecological knowledge inherited from their ancestors with modern technology.
Each morning, these women patrol the banks of the Aguarico River, searching for turtle tracks and nests. They use mobile data collection apps to instantly record information about the eggs, including their date, location, and count.
The charapa turtles, classified as "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are under significant threat due to illegal hunting, the collection of eggs from their nests, plastic pollution, and river floods associated with climate change.
Women are transporting eggs, which are vulnerable to these dangers, from their nests to secure incubation facilities.
After hatching, the teams carefully feed the hatchlings for about a month with taro, sweet potato, and cassava leaves, ensuring they successfully navigate the most critical stage.
The recent report offers a glimmer of hope: Number of Eggs Collected: 235
Hatchlings: 208
Release Date into the Wild: March - April 2026
The Turtle Women, who involve the local community and school-aged children in the process of releasing the hatchlings into the river, are transforming these activities into environmental education.
For the Siekopai community, who believe in the spiritual guardianship of rivers and animals, this project signifies not just the preservation of a species, but also the continuation of cultural and spiritual values inherited from their ancestors.
Experts highlight that the return of 208 hatchlings to the wild is a significant success in the short term. However, they emphasize the necessity of ongoing conservation efforts along the riverbanks to fully secure the future of the species.
Keşfet ile ziyaret ettiğin tüm kategorileri tek akışta gör!
Test
Gündem
Magazin
Video
Send Comment