Amazon turtle hatching season at world’s largest nursery sees 60,000 hatchlings in first days; see the photos

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A year ago, the season was marked by poor results, the extraordinary drought which hit the Amazon between 2023 and 2024 having affected the reproductive cycle of chelonians. Climate change is an impact factor that has been studied. In 2025, for example, egg-laying took place late, according to the institutions that monitor and control the Guaporé Quelônios program.

According to Ibama, the peak of outbreaks should occur in the coming weeks, until the beginning of January. Subsequently, the collected data will be analyzed more precisely. Last Sunday (14), Ibama, the Quilombola and Ecological Association of Vale do Guaporé (Ecovale) and Grupo Energisa participated in an event that marked the opening of the birth period, with the release of animals rescued in the nurseries of Vale do Guaporé.

The Guaporé River valley is considered the largest chelonian nursery in the world. Within a radius of approximately 30 kilometers, seven beaches serve as breeding grounds – five on Brazilian territory and two on the Bolivian side – where Amazonian turtles, tracajás and other species from the region lay their eggs.

Despite the improvement compared to last year, the impact of climate change persists. This year the level of the Guaporé River did not drop in the time considered correct and, therefore, there were not many strips of sand available for the turtles to lay their eggs. This process should have started between late September and early October, but it only took place on October 21 and 22 due to the high volume of rain and low temperatures recorded on the so-called Guaporé board.

The delay was about 15 days, which affected the start of the birthing season, explained José Carrate, biologist at Grupo Energisa.

— Hatchings were expected at the beginning of December, but they did not begin until the second half of the year. The number of puppies born is therefore lower than expected for this period.

But the end result is expected to exceed the number of births in 2024. Despite the prolonged impacts, a greater concentration was observed in daycare centers monitored by environmental programs.

— We do not expect to record many losses this year — says Ecovale coordinator, José Soares.

The objective of the program is to increase the survival rate of the species and ensure the maintenance of a stable population of chelonians, explains Ibama State Superintendent César Luiz da Silva.

— The program is fundamental given the history of human consumption and predation of these animals, which brought them to the brink of extinction in previous years.