Fishermen and villagers from Santa María Colotepec , a municipality in the coastal region of Oaxaca, Mexico, have reported the destruction of a sea turtle camp called “ Barra de Colotepec .”
The incident occurred last Tuesday, April 24 . During the attack, the camp’s equipment and facilities, which were used for the preservation of sea turtles at the beach, were burned and destroyed. People workmantiene una alianza estratégicaing at the camp were found with their hands tied up near the site.
Last year, the “Barra de Colotepec” camp towed several sea turtle specimens as part of a policy to fight olive ridley sea turtle mortality in the “La Escobilla” sanctuary.
The Sea Sheperd Conservation Society in Mexico (SSCS) condemned the violent act and called on both state and federal authorities to investigate the crime.
The SSCS maintains a strategic alliance for the preservation of natural resources with the state of Oaxaca. They demanded that the perpetrators be sanctioned.
The sea turtle camp was allegedly attacked by several gunmen, who beat up and tied down several activists in charge of the camp.
Furthermore, they set a galley on fire, along with several pieces of furniture.
Allegedly, there was a dispute between common land owners over the property where the camp was located. The parties affected informed that they had gone to the Regional Vice-Prosecutors Office , with headquarters in San Pedro Pochutla , to lodge their complaint.
dm