Mongabay · Natuur

Indigenous ‘turtle women’ help vulnerable reptiles recover in Ecuadorian Amazon

A group of Siekopai women in the Ecuadorian Amazon, known as the ‘turtle women,’ are using traditional knowledge and modern technology to aid the recovery of the vulnerable charapa turtle (Podocnemis unifilis). Their efforts combat threats like hunting, egg harvesting, pollution, and habitat disruption.

The charapa turtle populations have declined due to hunting, egg harvesting, and pollution from garbage, oil, and gasoline. Janeth Piaguaje, a Siekopai community leader, noted the presence of plastic and dead animals in the river, stating, "We can’t control all of that, but we do make a significant effort to clean the beaches where we work." Boat traffic erodes riverbanks, and rising water levels due to climate change flood nesting areas.

The seven women, calling themselves Tari Nomiowa’i or “turtle women,” patrol riverbanks to find turtle tracks and nests. They carefully collect eggs, a skill learned from elders, and document nest details like date, time, location, and egg count using the Epicollect5 app. The collected eggs are moved to an incubation facility for protection from predators, flooding, and pollution.

After hatching, the women care for the baby turtles for a month, feeding them cassava, sweet potato, and taro leaves. In the 2025-26 nesting season, they collected 235 eggs, successfully hatching and releasing 208 hatchlings. The group involved the local community and schoolchildren in the release and educational workshops.

The women's work is deeply rooted in their culture and the ancestral belief that turtles connect the visible and spiritual worlds, protected by Koouwajëo, the spiritual guardian of turtles. Piaguaje expressed a desire for Koouwajëo to be proud, stating, "When we protect turtles, we don’t just care for a species; we honor the spirits of the river, strengthen our culture and maintain the sacred pact between our community and nature."

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.