The Seri, or Comcaac, people of the Sonora coast have had a long and important relationship with the leatherback. Considered to be one of their five creator deities, the capture and release leatherback is cause for ceremony and celebrations. In recent years, however, the nation has noticed the drastic decline of the leatherback population, and decided to take action. The new conservation movement, called Grupo Tortuguero Comaac, consists of both elders and youths and uses both modern technology and tradition knowledge to monitor turtle populations and research their foraging habits. Five person teams consisting of an elder, two younger team members, and two trainees make monitoring expeditions into the
Canal de Infiernillo, the center of Seri territory and a site of extreme importance for migrating juvenile turtles. This has proven an effective means of both monitoring local turtle populations and passing traditional knowledge on to the younger generations.
Started in 2000, World Turtle Day aims to increase the public’s knowledge about turtles and tortoises. At home wherever they roam, turtles are some of the most diverse creatures – over 300 turtle species exist with 57 species in the U.S., and they’re found on every continent except Antarctica. And they play a vital role in the ecosystem, helping spread seeds on the land and supporting other marine life in the sea. On public lands across the country, we are working to protect turtle habitat and monitor turtle nests and hatchings.
Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0 
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