By: Annelise Tappe
Under the moonlight on a wild stretch of Oaxaca, Mexico’s coastline, a massive leatherback sea turtle, weighing nearly half a ton, hauls herself ashore to nest. She is one of the last of her kind in the eastern Pacific, an unlikely survivor of a species that has roamed the oceans for over 100 million years, however today, faces an uncertain future.
Once abundant across the Pacific, leatherback sea turtles have declined by 90% in this region, with a very limited number of nesting females remaining. Climate change, illegal poaching, and accidental capture in fishing gear have pushed the species to the edge of extinction. Today, their survival depends on swift, coordinated action…. and if anyone knows how to turn the tide for sea turtles, it is WILDCOAST.
For 25 years, the Del Mar–based nonprofit has helped protect over 38 million acres of globally important coastlines, coral reefs, mangrove forests, grey whale lagoons, and sea turtle nesting beaches in California and Mexico. In the early 2000s, WILDCOAST helped launch a nationwide campaign in Mexico that forever changed the fate of the once-endangered olive ridley sea turtle. With the powerful message “Don’t Eat Sea Turtle Eggs,” and the support of famous athletes, musicians, models, and cultural icons, the campaign reached millions and inspired widespread public awareness and behavior change around sea turtle consumption.
Since then, the population has bounced back with vigor, and more than 164 million olive ridley hatchlings have safely hatched on beaches like Morro Ayuta and Escobilla in Oaxaca – sanctuaries that WILDCOAST helped secure national protection for and continues to safeguard alongside local communities.
Now, the organization is applying that same proven approach to the critically endangered leatherback, expanding its protected coastline to include the Chacahua Beach Sanctuary, where approximately 91 leatherback nests are recorded each year. This marks this site as one of the most vital nesting areas for the species’ recovery. The Pacific leatherback has survived for millions of years – but without protection of these last remaining nesting sites, we could see them disappear within our lifetime.
The WILDCOAST team members who lead the program are native to Oaxaca’s coastal and nearby communities, encouraging a sustainable, community-based conservation model. They work tirelessly with community members to monitor nests, prevent poaching, and educate local families about the importance of conservation. WILDCOAST also distributes educational materials in Indigenous languages such as Chontal and Zapotec, ensuring that every voice can join in protecting the region’s wildlife.
The benefits of this work reach far beyond turtles. Healthy nesting beaches support coastal ecosystems that sustain fish, birds, and local livelihoods, while protecting vital habitats that buffer coastlines from erosion and storms.
From Oaxaca to San Diego, WILDCOAST’s work today, and over the past 25 years, is a testament that conservation success is possible when communities and nature thrive together. Thanks to efforts like these, incredible species like the leatherback sea turtle have hope for a thriving future.
To learn more or support WILDCOAST’s work, visit www.wildcoast.org.
