SEA TURTLES AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

PLAYA A UN LADO DEL MALECÓN – PUERTO VALLARTA

By the time our dogs and I arrived on the beach next to the malecón, the “green patrol” had already arrived.  A large, olive ridley sea turtle was making her slow, inclined journey back to the bay.  Several romping dogs had disturbed the turtle.  She was leaving the beach before having scooped out a sandy nest where she would have deposited dozens of eggs.  The olive ridley vanished into a small, white-crested wave, but would return to the same spot.  Sea turtles have been known to hold their eggs for as long as two years.

POR ESTAR ASUSTADA POR UNOS PERROS, NO HIZO SU NIDO EN LA ARENA.

After possible migrations of thousands of miles, females return to the place where they were hatched, where they mate and deposit their eggs.  This fantastic navigation of oceans occurs due to the sea turtles´reliance on earth´s magnetic fields.  This is the same way that migrating monarch butterflies are able to navigate through clouds.  

In the area of Banderas Bay, turtle nests are reported to ecology groups who arrive to dig up the eggs.  They are counted and  reburied in a secured beach corral with markers noting date eggs were deposited and how many.  The eggs are now protected from dogs and humans.  Approximately 45 days later at the time of hatching,  the baby turtles are taken down to the edge of the bay and released.  This happens in the evening, which saves many of them from birds, but not from fish.

Short video of the first sea turtle seen this year preparing its nest in Boca de Tomatlán.  The 95 eggs were dug up and reburied in a safer location on the beach.

www.facebook.com/katherine.c.santos.3/videos/2128249553854819/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDM0ODM4Nzk4MToxOTMxNDkwNTQzNTM5MjA2/

PLAYA LOS MUERTOS

“CHUKK” – PLAYA LOS MUERTOS

Beaches are filled with summer vacationers, who often leave trash behind.  A very large block of styrofoam washed up onto los muertos beach, where tiny particles of styrofoam were entangled in algae.  The block was heavy,  as it had a coating of cement on one end of it.  I asked two restaurant workers to carry it up to the sidewalk so the toxic block could be carried away to a dump.  Walking home an hour later, I noticed the styrofoam block in a large rain drain on the beach.  It would break up into smaller pieces. most of which would be washed into the bay and from there to the ocean to be consumed by birds and fish.

STYROFOAM QUE ESTABA EN LA ORILLA DE PLAYA LOS MUERTOS.  DESPUE´S DE LLEVARLO HASTA ARRIBA, ALGUIÉN LO TIRÓ EN EL DESAGUE DONDE Y LUEGO A LA BAHIA, EVENTUALMENTE EN PARTÍCULAS PEQUEÑAS QUE SON TÓXICAS.Y COMIDAS POR PEZES Y PÁJAROS.

EARLY MORNING NEAR THE PIER AT LOS MUERTOS BEACH.  TEMPRANO EN LA MAÑANA- PLAYA LOS MUERTOS – CERCA DEL MUELLE

Rains and summer vacationers always result in more trash in the bay.  Last week-end,  dolphins were swimming through a current that was carrying plastic bottles, bags and chunks of styrofoam out to the Pacific. There was even a floating television set in the bay, providing a tiny island of shade for fish.  Scientific estimates are that in 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean, per weight, than fish.

BOTELLAS Y BOLSAS DE PLÁSTICO Y AÚN UN TELEVISOR FLOTANDO EN LA BAHÍA.

In the far distance and without binoculars, captain Daniel spotted a large flock of birds.  We sped towards them, slowing down as we approached.  The birds were boobies (“pájaro bobo”) and in a fish-feeding frenzy –  diving, quacking, fighting over fish and gulping them down.  

BOBOS CON DELFINES – BAHÍA DE BANDERAS

Feeding with the bobos was a pod of spotted dolphins.  With about eight of them on the surface, several of whom were breaching repeatedly,  there might have been many more underneath them.   

VERY STILL FISH – PEZES TRANQUILOS – BAHIÁ DE BANDERAS        foto:  Karla de la Peña

DELFINES- BAHÍA DE BANDERAS                      foto:   Karla de la Peña

STARVING DOGS:  Maritza Liney sent me the below photo.  She is feeding the dogs some kibble and tortillas, but can´t do more than that.  Dogs are located in colonia floresta, calle rosa, next to the San Agustín farm.  Please contact Maritza if you can help. The dogs need to be fed and fixed and if possible,  adopted.  [email protected]

CALLEJEROS MURIENDO DE HAMBRE NECESITAN AYUDA – STARVING DOGS NEED HELP

BARRIO (NEIGHBORHOOD) SANTA MARÍA – A small, quiet neighborhood not far from the busy four-lane tunnel (“libramiento”) road.  The clinic took place in the government´s mobile unit in front of the animal health offices at the very small coyules park.

“ZEUS” – FUÉ A LA CLÍNICA EN STA. MARÍA Y  YA ESTÁ ESPERANDO VUELO A CANADÁ CON MEXPUP.

Serendipity – I mentioned to an attractive, athletic-looking young man sitting next to his large and very beautiful male Husky that it was unusual to see purebred dogs at our clinics. 

ZEUS TRANQUIILIIZADO, ANESTIZADO Y  ESPERANDO  CIRUGÍA

He replied that his father was ill and now allergic to dogs,  so they could no longer keep “Zeus,” who would go to a foster home after surgery.  I contacted Mexpup, who confirmed Zeus will fly to Canada as soon as the dog rescue organization finds a flight for him.
                                      At the end of the clinic day, Dr. Anthony removed a large lump of fat from our dog Chook´s chest.  It had been diagnosed a few days earlier by our vet as a possible tumor.  Instead, it was only a glob of fat, which looked very different from the malignant tumor Dr. Pacheco removed from a dog´s chest at the clinic in Mascota the week before.  

UNA BOLA DE GRASA DEL PECHO DE UN PERRO CLÍNICA EN BARRIO SANTA MARÍA

TUMOR MALIGNO – CLÍNICA EN MASCOTA

GATITOS RECUPERANDO DESPUÉS DE ESTERILIZACIÓN – CLÍNICA EN BARRIO STA. MARÍA

DONATIONS AT CLINIC IN BARRIO SANTA MARÍA – 
1,280  PESOS

NIÑOS OBSERVANDO GATOS EN EL ÁREA DE RECUPERACIÓN – BARRIO STA. MARÍA

FRANK OHLY – VOLUNTARIO 2 VECES LA SEMANA

COLONIA DÍAZ ORDAZ:  Located just off avenida México, the main road in and out of town, this is a mixed neighborhood of mostly one-story concrete houses, businesses, government offices and Plaza Caracól, a large shopping mall.  The clinic took place again in the government´s mobile unit, which isn´t very roomy or airy for three vets and a vet tech.  The recovery table was set up under a tent next to the mobile unit.

CLÍNICA EN COL. DÍAZ ORDAZ

STERILIZATIONS IN COL DÍAZ ORDAZ – AUGUST 8-11:

Male dogs – 17; Female dogs – 39; Male cats – 28; Female cats – 60 

TOTAL:  144    PLUS pregnancies terminated for:

1 dog with 11 fetuses; 1 dog with 7 fetuses; 1 cat with 5 fetuses;   
1 cat with 4 fetuses; 1 cat with 2 fetuses

TOTAL:  29 animals not born to suffer

DONATIONS AT CLINIC: $1,835.20 PESOS

Sofia Sanchez had contacted me regarding an abandoned female Chihuahua in her neighborhood and brought “LuLu” to the clinic.  

“LULU” – RESCATADA Y EN ADOPCIÓN – TIENE UN AÑO . CONTACTO:   [email protected] or 322 104-6609

The dog tested negative for all diseases at the nearby clinic of Mascotas, but as her temperature was high, spaying was not advisable that day.  Colette Zarry, owner of Colina free clinic, is fostering the pretty, year-old dog.  Please contact Colette if interested:  [email protected] or 322 104-6609  (she has several more rescues for adoption, including a white male Chihuahua).

SOFIA SANCHEZ CON “LULU” – UNA CHIHUAHUA QUE RESCATÓ.  TIENE UN AÑO Y ESTÁ EN ADOPCIÓN.  CONTACTO ARRIBA.

“Oso,” a beautiful, large and very friendly male dog rescued a month ago in Mojoneras was brought in for neutering and is for adoption.

RESCATADO EN MOJONERAS Y PARA ADOPCIÓN.  ESTERILIZADO EN DÍAZ ORDAZ

DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS:

Sue Hunter – $19 USD (monthly)  

Monzón Brewing Company– 769 PESOS –  PEACEAnimals was one of two charities in July to benefit from the monthly bottle cap donation program.

REID MORTIMER -HEAD BREWER AND CO-FOUNDER WITH HIS WIFE MIRANDA

 Customers are given bottle caps from purchases and place them in an identified bucket.  One peso per bottle cap translates into a one peso donation. MONZÓN -V. Carranza 239 –  Colonia Emiliano Zapata, Puerto Vallarta    

XOLO (MEXICAN HAIRLESS) ESPERANDO CIRUGÍA – COLONIA DÍAZ ORDAZ

FOR PHOTOS/NAMES OF RESCUED DOGS THAT NEED HOMES, THE CITY SHELTER (FORMER CENTRO DE ACOPIO) HAS A CURRENT ROSTER THAT INCLUDES PHOTOS, NAMES AND DESCRIPTIONS.

CLÍNICA EN DÍAZ ORDAZ

www.gretchen-peace-and-pv.blogspot.com