Environmental leaders and academic experts have joined forces to protect the Vallarta Casquito, a unique mud turtle found only in the Banderas Bay region. During a meeting at the University of Guadalajara’s Puerto Vallarta campus (CUCosta), representatives from the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and local organizations formalized a unified strategy to safeguard this endemic species. This move comes as a direct response to the theft of over 100 turtles from the university between 2024 and 2025 by individuals posing as officials.
The university is transforming its research into a permanent institutional pillar to ensure the turtle’s survival despite administrative changes. Rector María Esther Avelar Álvarez emphasized that the goal is to integrate teaching and community outreach to create a lasting conservation model. By involving student groups and local residents, the alliance aims to create a “front line” of protection for the turtle’s remaining natural habitats, which are increasingly threatened by land-use changes and illegal trafficking.
Profepa has committed to increasing environmental inspections and monitoring the local ecosystems where these turtles live. Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of Profepa, stated that federal support will add the necessary legal weight to combat the black market trade of the species. The ultimate goal of this new alliance is to establish a secure sanctuary in Puerto Vallarta, turning a period of recent setbacks into a long-term legacy of environmental stewardship for one of the world’s rarest reptiles.
Source: Banderas News
