The Amazon's largest turtle nursery is facing a drastic decline in births due to extreme climate events. According to the Amazon Turtles Project (PQA), only 350,000 turtle hatchlings are expected in 2024, a significant drop from over 1.4 million in the previous year.
This alarming decrease is attributed to delays in the reproductive cycle caused by unprecedented weather conditions, including record droughts, intense fires, flooding, and high temperatures in the northern region of Brazil. The data was released by Grupo Energisa, a supporter of the project, based on information from the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama).
The Guaporé River Valley, located in Rondônia near the Brazil-Bolivia border, is home to this critical turtle breeding ground. The project has been active for over 22 years, focusing on protecting native species such as the Amazonian turtle and tracajás while also conserving local bird and lizard populations.
Due to severe smoke from wildfires obscuring visibility, turtles have struggled to find nesting sites, resulting in delays that cascade through their reproductive cycle. Additionally, this year’s extreme drought has expanded sandbanks, exposing hatchlings to predators and harsh conditions.
Efforts to rescue nests and hatchlings have seen over 200,000 births recorded in just one day. The Ibama has initiated the release of turtles with ongoing monitoring to mitigate climate change impacts.
Established in 1979, the PQA has managed around 100 million turtle hatchlings, making Brazil the only South American country with significant recoverable turtle populations. The program aims to sustainably conserve Amazonian turtle species while improving the socio-economic well-being of local communities.