Massive Green Sea Turtle Rescued from Tulum Hotel Swimming Pool

TULUM, Quintana Roo — A green sea turtle weighing an estimated 220 kilograms, or 485 pounds, was rescued after becoming trapped in a swimming pool at the Bespoke Tulum hotel along the Playa del Carmen-Tulum highway.

Members of Tulum’s Civil Protection and Fire Department responded to the hotel and worked with biologists to remove the turtle without injuring it. Images from the operation show several people maneuvering the animal onto a reinforced stretcher before carrying it away from the pool.

The turtle was subsequently returned to the beach and released into the Caribbean, according to information distributed following the rescue. Authorities did not say how it entered the pool, how long it had been there or whether it underwent a veterinary examination before its release.

An exceptionally large turtle

If the weight estimate is accurate, the animal was close to the upper end of the species’ normal range. Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas says the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the largest member of the hard-shelled Cheloniidae family and can weigh as much as 225 kilograms.

The species gets its name from the greenish color of the fat beneath its shell, rather than the color of the shell itself. Adults generally have smooth, heart-shaped shells and can reach approximately 1.2 meters in length, according to the federal conservation agency.

The animal’s size suggests it was a mature adult. However, responders did not release information about its sex or whether it had come ashore to nest.

Rescue occurred during nesting season

The incident took place during the Riviera Maya’s annual sea turtle nesting season, when adult females emerge from the Caribbean at night and move up the beach in search of suitable places to lay their eggs. In developed coastal areas, turtles may encounter buildings, swimming pools, furniture and artificial lighting after leaving the water.

Bright lights can draw turtles away from the sea or discourage females from nesting. Beachfront properties are therefore encouraged to shield or turn off lights visible from the sand, remove furniture and keep access routes clear at night.

All sea turtle species found in Mexican waters are protected under federal law and are classified as endangered under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. Removing, possessing, disturbing or selling turtles, their eggs or products made from them is prohibited.

Anyone who encounters a turtle in distress should keep people and pets away, avoid trying to move the animal and contact local emergency services or environmental authorities. Trained responders can determine whether the turtle requires medical attention and how it can be handled safely.