What would you do if someone destroyed your home?
Queen Conch: Threatened Species

The queen conch (Strombus gigas) is a natural resource held by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a Commercially Threatened Species. In Mexico, the fishery of the queen conch is located off the coast of Yucatan and Quintana Roo. Due to the significant decrease in its population, in the eighties this practice was closed in Yucatan. In Quintana Roo there is a ban from May to October, for individuals with minimum catch size of 20 inches and catch quota of 30 tons to 12 tons Banco Chinchorro and Cozumel for and limited issuance of permits.

However, the conch is overfished and in some areas is an extinct species; it has been subjected to intense illegal fishing, where conch meat is found in restaurants and markets throughout the year. To counter this situation, Xel-Ha Park has created an environmental education program to create conscious about the protection and rehabilitation of the species. The Park promotes the conservation of the queen conch, protecting the adult population, its reproductive health, and juveniles who have had good growth and survival rates, because of these reasons, the Park is considered a sanctuary for the queen conch.

Xel-Ha is an exceptional place for such studies because the conch lives freely and cannot be captured. Also, the park offers 14 hectares of water formed by contributions from the hydro-geological system of Quintana Roo, which then flows into the Caribbean Sea. The Park also has two ecosystems: sea water and freshwater, which becomes even more interesting for the study of the conch.

The studies aim for basic research of the conch, explained biologists Thomas Stieglitz and Erwan Amice, who visited Xel-Ha for their yearly check-up at the Park. “We’re trying to understand how it relates to its environment, how they use their environment. We are really trying to understand the ecology and biology of the animal.” Also, bimonthly monitoring is performed to determine how the population of the conch is doing in its environment.

Xel-Ha also has a training center for teachers of primary and secondary level of the Mesoamerican Reef Program, which sensitizes teachers and updates on this issue, to contribute, from the classroom, greater awareness among young people. The program is conducted in coordination with the Centre for Research and Advanced Studies CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Merida. The studies were conducted for the first time in the Caribbean in December 2009.

The Park is a place where the conch is intact. “Xel-Ha is a valuable place for the preservation not only of the Queen Conch, but many other animals,” explained Stieglitz.

The Moms of Nature

The month of May is special as we celebrate a special person that is always there for us, no matter what—our mom. Mother’s Day—celebrated in Mexico on May 10th—is a special time to thank everything mothers do for their offspring, including our moms in the animal kingdom.
In Xcaret, Xel-Ha and even Xplor, we have a special soft spot for our moms of nature.

XCARET

Xcaret Park helps reproduce more than 20 species and houses more than 44 types of tropical birds; in addition, we have crocodiles, bats, jaguars and pumas, deer, tapir, spider and howler monkeys, and the successful marine turtle preservation program. We also have dolphins and horses that have had successful breeding programs. There’s nothing more beautiful than a mother and offspring and we’re proud to be a part of this magic. The video below shows a foal, or baby horse, with its mother. The colt-foal was born on January 20th, 2012 and was named “Prince of the Water”, Yunuén in Maya.

XEL-HA

Xel-Ha is known as the world’s largest natural aquarium and among the species that call its crystal waters their home, the beautiful manatee has been a part of the family since 2008. The manatee is a mammal that lives in rivers, lagoons and mangrove. Almost 5 years ago, upon request from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, two manatees were rescued from a contaminated lagoon. The manatees—an endangered species—were living in poor conditions and without food readily available. Since their welcome to Xel-Ha, the couple was able to recuperate and reproduce successfully to form a beautiful manatee family.

XPLOR

As you get closer and closer to the center, you will hear it. The “thump-thump” beat of the heart at Xplor that connects everything to the center. All roads lead you to it and the giant, red, beating heart represents Mother Nature and our respect for Her. 65 million years ago, Xplor was already in the making. The combination of two processes—lower water levels and the infiltration of rain water—formed the stalagmites and stalactites inside the caves that now form the Park. Nature itself created the caves that now make our home, even before the first proof of human life. Because of this beauty, we work arduously to respect and admire Mother Nature every day.

What’s your favorite mom of nature?

Xel-Ha: Celebrating the Earth all Year

In this majestic Ecological Park in the Riviera Maya, where visitors can enjoy nature and observe species in their natural habitat, guests can also observe the continuous care we give our ecosystems not only for Earth Day, but throughout the year. Since its opening in 1994, Xel-Ha has had a great impact on the conservation, protection and restoration of the geographical area in which it is located and in surrounding communities implementing the following actions:

1. Re-population and conservation
2. Protection and restoration
3. Monitoring of flora and fauna

a) Protection and Preservation of the Marine Turtle
b) Protection and Preservation of the Queen Conch

4. Creating Environmental Education Programs

a) Environmental Training for teachers
b) Eco Tours (Guided Tours)
c) Melipona Bee Ceremony

5. Integrated Solid Waste Management

a) Production of Compost (soil fertilizer)
b) Separation and recycling
c) Elimination of maps

6. Integrated Water Management System

a) Water heaters
b) Reduction of greenhouse gases

As part of the Earth Day celebration, visitors were offered sample bags of compost and the monthly yoga session at the Park commemorated this important date. We also work year-round to serve our community, be an example for other companies and invite them to adopt sustainable and social responsibility business solutions.

Based on these measures, Xel-Ha is characterized by taking environmentally conscious actions so that visitors and staff go beyond the Park and take this culture home to educate family and friends with a new generation of respect and love for our Earth.

To learn more about the sustainability and protection done by Xel-Ha Park, we recommend visiting www.xelharse.com and following us on Twitter and Facebook.

What do you propose to care for the land from your community?

Xel-Há, Riviera Maya- The 5 Most Valuable Reasons To Preserve The Coral Reefs

  “Tropical and Riviera Maya coral reefs are very productive ecosystems. Not only are do they support enormous biodiversity, they are also of immense value to humankind”, says Martin Harvey, from WWF. If you need a number to believe it, there’s a big one from The Nature Conservancy-Global Marine Initiative: The annual global economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at $US375 billion. Here are the reasons:

1.        Coral reefs are the most valuable marine habitats for over 100 countries around the world, including the Riviera Maya at Mexico, where Xel-Há Park is located. They produce more living biomass than any other marine ecosystem. Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, they are home to 25% of all marine fish species.

2.       That’s why coral reefs are vital to the world’s fisheries. An estimated one billion people have some dependence on coral reefs for food and income from fishing.

3.       Coral reefs form natural barriers that protect nearby shorelines from the eroding forces of the sea, just like the Xel-Há’s shorelines, as an example. They break the power of the waves during storms, hurricanes, typhoons, and even tsunamis. The reefs save billions of dollars each year in terms of reduced insurance and reconstruction costs.

4.       Tourism revenues generated by coral reefs are also significant. Sustainably managed coral reef-based tourism, just like Xel-Há does at the Riviera Maya, can also provide significant alternative or additional sources of income to poorer coastal communities in developing countries.

5.       Coral reefs biodiversity is the key to finding new treatment of diseases such as cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, and even ulcers.

 However, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature. As responsible tourists, there are many things we can do to preserve the coral reef. To use a biodegradable sunscreen when visiting the beach is one of them, that’s why we ask you to change your sunscreen at Xel-Há or a biodegradable one.

Share With Us What Do You Do To Preserve The Coral Reefs When You Visit The Riviera Maya!

Meet the social media team for Xcaret, Xel-Há & Xplor!

Hi! We’ve been talking to you for a long time, but we haven’t introduced ourselves. We’re the Social Media team that writes for you on this blog, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and You Tube. We’re four guys who like communication, marketing, technology and we love to show what you can enjoy at Xcaret, Xel-Há and Xplor when you’re on vacation in Cancún and the Mayan Riviera. Would you like to meet us?

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The jungle of the Caribbean is the best place for your vacation in Mexico, but it is also the perfect scenario for a Mayan legend. Here in Xel-Há is told a beautiful legend about two brothers, a princess and a great love.  Would you like to read the legend?

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