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

On the banks of the Aguarico River in the Ecuadorian Amazon, a group of Indigenous Siekopai women known as the "turtle women" are working to aid a threatened native turtle species. These women, called Tari Nomiowa'i, employ traditional knowledge paired with modern technology to protect charapa turtles (Podocnemis unifilis), also referred to as the yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle.

According to Astrid Arellano of Mongabay Latam, the turtle population has decreased due to overhunting, egg harvesting, and pollution from garbage, oil, and gasoline. Janeth Piaguaje, a Siekopai community leader involved in the project, highlights the presence of plastic waste, dead animals floating in the river, and damaged riverbanks due to boat traffic.

Climate change is also a factor, causing water levels to rise and flood the nesting areas for the turtles.

The turtle women, comprising seven members, actively patrol the riverbanks in search of turtle tracks and nests. Once they locate a nest, they meticulously record the date, time, location, and number of eggs using the Epicollect5 app, a field data collection tool. This information is then shared with conservationists to assist in the turtles' recovery efforts.

The Siekopai women have learned the art of collecting turtle eggs from their ancestors, gaining valuable insights into the timing of nesting periods. Despite facing challenges such as pollution, riverbank erosion, and climate change, the turtle women remain committed to ensuring the survival of this vulnerable species.