In recent days the Regional Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira received a complaint by the Sea Turtles Foundation, who warned about an episode experienced by foreign tourists on the beaches of Cabo de la Vela - Uribia municipality where some fishermen were trading and exhibiting 5 tortugas marinas.

The environmental group of the National Police, National Army, the coast guards of Puerto Bolivar and Corpoguajira moved to the point of affectation, corroborating that the individuals were being employed for lucrative purposes, incurring an environmental crime as contemplated by law.

They immediately took the pertinent actions and intervened, achieving the seizure of a green turtle (Chelonia Mydas) that after the evaluation was released, this species that can measure 120 cm long carapace and weigh up to 230 Kg, it is very common in these areas since seagrass beds and algae are their main food.

During the operation it was evidenced that these bad environmental practices are being developed by Wayuu indigenous people, who retaliated when continuing with the operation and the rescue of the 4 remaining turtles, action that was impossible considering that the individuals were tied with rope from their shell to one end of the boats that were in the place.

Highlight the work of the Fundación Tortugas del Mar, an NGO that protects sea turtles and their associated ecosystems in Colombia by contributing to knowledge, recovery and conservation of sea turtle populations and their associated ecosystems in the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (UICN) places this species in the ENDANGERED category (IN) like the Resolution 1912 of 2017 of the Minambiente. In the department of La Guajira, sea turtles have a regional ban under the Resolution 2879 of 1995.