IN 1995, MEXICO'S most popular rock and roll band, Maná, released Cuando los
Ángeles Lloran (When Angels Cry) the title song for which honors the
Brazilian labor organizer, "Chico" Mendes, who struggled to stop the logging
of the rain forests and at the age of 43 was assassinated for his efforts.

On the same album is the song Selva Negra (Black Forest) which
correspondingly laments the destruction of habitat and ecosystem.
Putting words into action, Maná became the driving force behind La
Fundación Ecológica Selva Negra, A.C. (The Selva Negra Foundation
www.selvanegra.org.mx) which pulls together various government
agencies and businesses to help protect the environment.

One of the Selva Negra projects is just outside of Puerto Escondido at Playa
del Palmarito where we recently stopped by to watch the hatch and release of
400 some Golfina (aka Olive Ridley) turtles. Along this 22 kilometre
stretch of beach, a few paid employees and a lot more volunteers work
between October and April, seven days a week, mostly at night, to collect
the turtle eggs and rebury them inside a protected fence.

As they collect the turtle eggs they also pick up the trash they find along
the way that has washed in from the ocean or been left on the beach by
irresponsible beach goers. The day we visited I counted 20 large garbage
bags of mostly plastic which they had collected in just two days.

While sea turtles have few ocean predators, large sharks mostly, the major
decline of these endangered turtles over the last 20 years has been due to
human exploitation of their eggs and meat.

Depending on the species, the eggs hatch within 45 to 60 days and the baby
turtles set off at sunset for the short crawl into the Pacific Ocean. Only
a small percentage will be lucky enough to become adults and make it back to
bury their eggs in an attempt to complete their natural cycle.

You can visit the folks at Playa del Palmarito, a few kilometres out of town
headed NW on Highway 200. Turn off at Laguna Chica, there are signs for the
Cruz Azul Football School.

Ruperto Ortega Lisama and his son David are happy to accept visitors and
donations.

You can also see turtle releases at the El Tomatal and Chila Fiestas.
(Check the calendar page.)

Gabriel de la Cruz Silos can be found dispensing cars and tourist advice at
Económica Rent-a-Car in Zicatela