The surprise came to Juanita’s house, located in a sector next to the Ciénaga de la Virgen, in the beautiful city of Cartagena. Among the collaborators of the mangrove reserve, a team dedicated to protecting and preserving this fragile ecosystem, was Juanita, a nature lover and defender of wildlife. This is the story of Ahome and her little wonders, a story of hope and conservation.
One day, while they were doing a cleaning day in the reserve, they found a large and majestic turtle that they decided to name Ahome. Recognizing that she needed special care, Juanita and her team decided to foster Ahome in her home for a few days, while they checked her health.
However, despite all the efforts and care devoted to Ahome, they began to notice that the turtle was losing weight rapidly. They soon realized that it needed to be in her natural habitat to survive. With sadness, but with the conviction of doing the right thing, they made the decision to release Ahome in the Ciénaga de la Virgen, so she could swim freely and find her own food.
A Surprising Discovery
What Juanita and her team did not know was that during her stay at the house, Ahome had left a valuable surprise on the dirt floor of the kitchen: turtle eggs! It was only when the little turtles had already hatched and were moving around the kitchen that they realized what had happened. Filled with joy and amazement, they decided to name the little ones according to their abilities and characteristics, such as Swimmer, Speed, Runner, Thunder, among others, other people close to them called them Ninja Turtles.
The team dedicated themselves to caring for and feeding these little hicoteas (as this species of turtle scientific name Trachemys callirostris is colloquially known). While they continued their important work in cleaning up the mangrove, they also took it upon themselves to make sure the turtles were healthy and strong. With each passing day, the children who joined the team learned about the value of these turtles in their environment, and how their conservation was crucial to keep the balance of life in the Ciénaga de la Virgen.
With a clear objective in mind, once the mangrove cleaning work is finished, the small turtles will be released so that they can live fully in their natural habitat. It will be an exciting and rewarding time, full of hope for the preservation of this endangered species.
The story of Ahome and her little wonders reminds us of the importance of caring for and protecting endangered species. Each one of us has a crucial role in preserving the biodiversity of our planet. From avoiding the consumption of endangered species to supporting conservation initiatives and educating future generations, we can all make a difference