Kemp's ridley sea turtle Recovery Project

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the most endangered species of sea turtle. The Kemp’s ridley population underwent a devastating decline in the mid-1900’s, primarily due to over-harvest of eggs and loss of juveniles and adults due to commercial fishing. Biologists did not know the location of the main Kemp’s ridley nesting beach in Mexico until the early 1960’s, when a film was discovered that showed an estimated 40,000 females nesting at Rancho Nuevo on one day. Biologists did not initiate protection efforts at Rancho Nuevo until the mid-1960s. Despite protection efforts by the Mexican government, the population continued to decline.

In 1978, the U.S. joined Mexico in efforts to try to save the species from extinction and recover the population. Multi-agency, international programs were developed, including an attempt to increase nesting by this indigenous species at Padre Island National Seashore to form a secondary nesting colony at a protected beach in the U.S., as a safeguard against extinction. Extensive conservation efforts have continued for Kemp’s ridley in Mexico and the U.S., including the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle Recovery Project conducted at Padre Island National Seashore. Due to years of conservation efforts, Kemp’s ridley nesting is increasing in Mexico and the U.S.

http://www.nps.gov/pais/naturescience/strp.htm

Resource: Padre Island National Seashore