Palmarito Sea Turtle Rescue

Care for those above land, and below.

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Giving back is who we are

Dr. Hugh Davis and his wife, Nancy Fantom love to travel and their work with animals; volunteering and giving back is also part of their core values. They have been very fortunate to combine these interests in their work with three very special international charities. In 2000, they had the unique opportunity to become part of the first trip to the coast of Oaxaca in Mexico to spay/neuter mission. The project's focus was to help reduce the numbers of dogs in small villages along the coast where sea turtles nest. What do dogs and sea turtles have in common? Usually nothing, but on the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, the stray dog population affects the survival of sea turtles in ways that most people have never considered. The local dogs feed on hatchlings, eggs and even occasionally nesting adults. These beaches are among the most important nesting sites in the world for many species of sea turtles, including the extremely endangered leatherback turtle.

Care above all else is in our core

Along with Dr. Richard Rodger of Massachusetts, the founder of the project, Nancy and Hugh joined several other veterinarians and volunteers, and traveled to Mazunte, Mexico.

In those early years, one small team worked in a different village every day for 5 days and less than 100 dogs were spayed or neutered. In the last few years, the project has grown to 4 or 5 teams made up of dedicated veterinarians and nurses working in different villages for 5 days. The project has also expanded to include student veterinarians from both the USA and Mexico, providing them with valuable field medicine skills and a "world view" of animal welfare and veterinary medicine . The project now proudly provides spay & neuter services to over 1200 dogs and cats yearly at no charge.

Dedication at it's finest

The Mazunte Project, as it is known, works in partnership with a local sea turtle conservation project to ensure the sites for surgery are close to the nesting beaches and chosen to benefit rural and underprivileged communities who have limited access to veterinary care. Palmarito Sea Turtle Rescue is a US 501(C)3 and funded solely through donations and grants. One man, Dr. Marcelino Lopes-Reyes has spearheaded these projects for veterinary care and started Palamrito Sea Turtle which patrols a large beach and is responsible for protecting thousands of hatchlings every year. He also has an iguana hatchery and helps protect the local green and black iguana population.

Dr. Davis and his family are personal supporters of this project and encourage our Northwood Vet family to join us in this mission. From that very first trip, a passion for this mission, the area and its people, the welfare of the dogs, and protection of the sea turtles began and has continued to present day.
Palmaritoseaturtlerescue.org