The Program for Saving the Sea Turtles from Extinction Works

Preservationists have been working on saving the sea turtles from extinction for 30 years, and their efforts seem to have paid off.

While in 1994 there was only one sea turtle nest in Texas, this year 50 nestings were recorded and more than 4,000 eggs had been recovered for incubation.

"We've already had three nestings on Galveston Island," said Houstonian Carole Allen, who has fought for decades for federal preservation programs for Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

The nests are destroyed mainly by humans although a part of them is destroyed by animal predators. According to Mexican officials the eggs are dug up not only for food but also for their supposed aphrodisiac powers.

The newly born turtles are also highly vulnerable to predators. This is why once they hatch they are taken to a Galveston National Marine Fisheries Service facility to grow safely. They are released into the Gulf of Mexico only when they are larger. Each year Mexican officials send 2,000 eggs to hatch on a Padre Island beach.

Although the turtles are still endangered the program for their salvation from extinction seems to be on the right track.