The Pacific coast of Nicaragua is a favorite nesting site for four of the seven known sea turtle species. As a result, efforts to protect and preserve this useful area are crucial to the long-term conservation of the turtles.

It was 5:00 a.m. when we left to visit our third school. We drove an hour to the Wildlife Refuge of Chaconcente, and then after breakfast, set off on a three hour horseback ride and walk to the beach. I have never been horseback-riding, much less through a forest, but today I saw and heard creatures that I really did not want to see. There were wild bulls that were ready to attack our horses at any time, spiders, snakes and pretty much anything else you can imagine that would be living in the wild! After about an hour we made it the beach.

Since 2003, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has helped over 500 projects around the world with Species Research, Habitat Protection, Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation and Conservation Education. My name is Yaritza Aponte and I have been selected as an ambassador for the Fund to travel to Nicaragua and work with Fauna & Flora International (FFI) to help educate locals on the importance of conserving the Sea Turtles.

Animals in need and endangered species around the world will benefit from more than $1 million in grants awarded by the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Since its creation seven years ago, the Fund has granted more than $7 million to protect wild

Nesting season for loggerhead sea turtles has begun in Florida and continues through August. This is critical time period for these endangered animals; often impacted by humans.