SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES THE FIRST FESTIVAL OF SEA TURTLES IN Kuna Yala
On 20, 21, 22 and 23 May 2010 held the first festival of sea turtles in the community of Armila - Kuna Yala, Panama.
This event was conducted by the community supported by family Armila activist Ibedi the natural huts always up front with our coordinator Mr. Ignacio Crespo, Tortuguero voluntary Kuna Yala and sponsored by the Ocean Revolution foundation.
participated in this festival various public and private institutions, in order to conserve and protect sea Leatherback sea or channel specifically (Dermochelys coriacea ), a species found in the IUCN Red List classified as critically endangered.
Institutions like ARAP (Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama), ANAM (National Environmental Authority), the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, STRI, MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry), MIVIOT (Ministry of Housing and Land Management), (CGK) Kuna General Congress, SENACYT (National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation), EK (events Kreative), TVN (Television Nacional, SA) Ceitzen design as volunteers Prof. Karen Martino, Mr. Argelis Ruiz, Schools and Narganá Armila, to Mr. Marino Eugenio Abrego, Biologist and Development Department of ARAP National Programme Manager for the Protection and Conservation Sea Turtle and Representative of Panama to the Scientific and Technical Committee of the ILC and CPPS.
This festival exceeded expectations and objectives of providing fun, safe, and wholesome entertainment with shows such as observation, the hatching and release of sea turtle hatchlings largest World one of the most interesting phenomena of nature .
worth mentioning that the event was first held in Kuna Yala and Panama, where one of the results of this festival was to ask the authorities concerned the declaration of the beach as a reservoir zone Armila O SHRINE OF SEA TURTLES IN Kuna Yala, PANAMA.
This event was attended by several specialists in the field of conservation and protection of sea turtles and one of them is Ms. Ruiz Argelis a renowned biologist at the national and international research of sea turtles in Panama, who had the opportunity to collect scientific data on our beach in the three-day event and show during the festival in the beach come to spawn more than 297 leatherback turtles, a record that on passes the scientific expectation in Panama. So giving scientific credibility and value the importance of the nesting beach. Additional formal request was made to the ARAP, through Mr. Abrego for establishing a Research Program, Monitoring, Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles coordinated by this important institution.
Armila today, is ranked as the fourth spawning of sea turtles from the Caribbean after Gabon, Trinidad and Tobago and most importantly in the leatherback turtle nesting in Panama according to research by scientists Juan Patiño and Liliana Quiñones Doñana Biological Station BVDA supported.
Furthermore, the Foundation OCEAN REVOLUTION a foundation that works with indigenous groups in the world in the conservation of marine turtles in the world. Armila is one of six communities in the world until now known not to consume turtle meat leatherbacks, according to international conservation.
Visitors were impressed not only the diversity, culture and magic surrounding this hidden paradise called Armila but also of ecological cabins IBEDI NATURAL Paradise of turtles in Kuna Yala, PANAMA. They also met another corner of the country and enjoyed one of the most beautiful beaches are on the border of Panama with Colombia as it is white beach in La Miel, which was the delight of all. During the festival were educational, cultural and recreational activities aimed at conservation.
One of the activities that took place was cleaning the beach for two hours, whose goal was to create awareness about the protection and conservation of sea turtles. In the education area is featured exhibition of films and documentaries on Armila, talks on environmental education for ARAP. To complete the experience at the First Festival of the Sea Turtle visitors enjoyed the traditional dances (nogakope) molas contest depicted the sea and exhibition of murals and release of turtles.
