Community, marine and environmental Conservation programmes in Mexico

GVI is a non-political, non-religious organisation, which through its alliance with over 150 project partners in over 30 countries, provides opportunities for volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development.

For the last three days volunteers and staff in Pez Maya have found Jaguar footprints on base and on the beach! ...how cool is that!!!

This morning (31st July, 2012) volunteers and staff in Pez Maya saw 2 manatees swimming, while diving! This was a rare encounter as it is really strange to see them around! Specially to see two! Of course everybody is super excited!!

Just last week coming back from Punta Gruesa base to Mahahual town, two volunteers and two staff members saw a baby deer just by the road. First we thought it was a dog but when we approached it our eyes couldn't believe it was a baby deer that quickly made its way back to the forest!! In the sea we have gotten to sea many creatures but in the road is rather uncommon these type of sights!! So exciting!!!

After spending 4 days in Punta Gruesa, Mahahual for the GVI staff training workshop, our 2 Field volunteer coordinators, Mo and Olly, together with Danny and Cynthia from Regional Office were heading out from Uvero Road when they saw from afar what seemed to be an iguana walking at the side of the road. To their surprise when they passed by it they realized that it wasn’t an Iguana, it was a baby crocodile hanging out on the road far away from its mum, we hope!

They managed to get near it and shot a few pictures of the baby crocodile just before it ran away and hid in the mangroves. They were very happy to see it went back to the mangroves safe away from cars. GVI Mexico staff continued on their way to Playa del Carmen with the eyes wide open in case any other wildlife crossed their path. Tucans, ospreys, snakes, chacha laca birdss, volunteers have all been sighted on the road to Punta Gruesa. Maybe next time they’ll see a jaguar!

EM have just returned from turtle camp at Xcacel, north of Tulum. After spending the afternoon snoozing in hammocks, our night time duties began with releasing turtle hatchlings into the sea!!!! What an incredible experience. Once we were sure that they had got away well on their long journey, we took a bumpy ride through narrow jungle tracks to another beach to patrol for nesting turtles until sunrise. To aid the conservation of loggerhead and green turtles that nest along the Quintana Roo coastline, we collected hundreds of eggs from these gentle giants to be taken away to safer nesting sites. We also tagged the mothers’ fins with a unique code that will help them to identified over the coming years when they return to nest. After several hours of amazing

Within their first few hours at Pez Maya, while on the health and safety tour of the base, being informed of potential wildlife dangers, including snakes, the new EMs were treated to a rare sight of a boa constrictor devouring a large iguana. The boa was so preoccupied with his meal, that he didn’t even mind posing for a few snap shots, though we are not so sure if the iguana was happy about it!
It was a great sight to see and a good example of how wildlife adapts to live around humans and humans around the wildlife.

Whilst on a boat trip looking at birds, TNC Regional Directors, Cesar Barrios from Amigos de Sian Ka'an and GVI Mexico's Country Director Danny, where incredibly fortunate to stumble upon a mighty Jaguar (Pantera onca) The Jaguar, hidden in a little mangrove island, peacefully observed the visitors; the visitors, thrilled and amazed at the beauty of the Jaguar, could not contain their emotions and appreciation. The visitors left after 10 minutes of observation - what a sight!