and one hundred specimens cultivated during one year at the 

 Galveston Laboratory (Texas), were sent on July 4, 1980 to the 

 Cayman Island Turtle Farm, to make up a reserve reproductive 

 stock. Any hatchling resulting from reproduction by this stock 

 was to be released to the natural environment, as support for the 

 recuperation program. After nearly four years at Grand Cayman, 

 in April 1984, two turtles of the 1979 class nested for the first 

 time and three hatchlings hatched, but died a few days later. In 

 1985, no nesting occurred but in 1986, five turtles of the same 

 year (1979) , laid 535 eggs in eight nests, and 75 hatched. 

 During the present year the results have increased considerably 

 (Wood and Wood, in press; J. Wood, pers. comm.). 



A zone of refuge completely protecting the species from 

 exploitation has been created at the nesting beaches of Rancho 

 Nuevo, Tamaulipas. The zone is specifically designed for the 

 development and conservation of the Kemp's ridley. Here, all 

 activities that may negatively affect the turtle population are 

 forbidden, both in the terrestrial area of the littoral zone as 

 well as in the sea, with a perimeter of 4 km from the tidal line 

 to the sea. (Anon. 1977, 1986). 



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