Cancún authorities investigate sea turtle hatchling deaths

Social media reports have raised concerns regarding the death of sea turtle hatchlings near the Hotel Live Aqua in Cancún. Videos shared on TikTok showed dead hatchlings near a designated protection corral, leading to public criticism regarding a perceived lack of supervision by hotel staff and local ecology officials.

In response, the General Directorate of Ecology of Benito Juárez clarified that some nests are laid ‘in situ’—naturally outside of designated protection areas. Authorities explained that hatchlings left in these natural nests may be exposed to predators, which is part of the wildlife's natural cycle. The Directorate is coordinating with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) to investigate the circumstances and determine if there is any responsibility regarding the management of the protection corrals.

Despite these incidents, official reports for the 2026 nesting season in Cancún indicate significant activity. The Directorate has recorded 10,407 protected nests, resulting in over 1.2 million eggs and approximately 203,994 hatchlings. The majority of these belong to the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), with additional counts for loggerhead and hawksbill turtles.