Episode #198 Show Notes

Saving the Yucatán’s Endangered Sea Turtles with Melania López-Castro, PhD

January 2, 2025

Headshot photo of Melania López-Castro, PhD
Melania López-Castro, PhDSea Turtle Conservation Program Coordinator

Episode #198 Summary

The Yucatán Peninsula is a place of vibrant biodiversity, ancient cultures, and crystal-clear waters that host some of the ocean’s most iconic species. But beneath the surface, sea turtles face an uphill battle for survival against a tide of habitat destruction, climate change, and human interference. What if we could turn the tide and give these ancient mariners a fighting chance?

Welcome back to Rewildology, the nature podcast that explores the human side of conservation, travel, and rewilding the planet. I’m your host, Brooke Mitchell, conservation biologist and adventure traveler.

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the world of sea turtle conservation with Melania López-Castro, PhD, Sea Turtle Conservation Program Coordinator at Pronatura Península de Yucatán, A.C. In this conversation, we explore Melania’s journey from academia to nonprofit work, her innovative research learning where sea turtles go after they leave their beach of birth, and the complex challenges facing sea turtles in the Yucatán – from feral dogs raiding nests to the impacts of coastal development. We’ll also explore Pronatura’s collaborative work with fishermen, hotel owners, and policymakers to build a brighter future for sea turtles in the region. If you’ve ever wondered how small coastal communities can drive big conservation wins, this is the episode for you.

Alright, let’s get into it! Here’s my conversation with Melania López-Castro from Pronatura Península de Yucatán.

Learn More About Today’s Sponsor: SEE Turtles

SEE Turtles’ mission is to connect people with sea turtles in meaningful, personal, and memorable ways, and help the sea turtle community connect, grow, and thrive by supporting community-based conservation efforts. If you’re inspired by this conversation and want to take action, check out seeturtles.org/rewild to learn 5 ways you can help sea turtles – from joining a conservation trip to saving a baby turtle and even fighting the illegal trade. Plus, Rewildology listeners can get $50 off a conservation trip by using the promo code “rewild.”

Episode Transcript

Disclaimer: Transcripts are AI-generated, unedited, and may contain errors.

Listen to the Episode

Watch this Episode on YouTube

Melania in the Field

Links & Resources

Pronatura Península de Yucatán

Check out the latest Rewildology Episodes

Browse all episodes