Friday April 24th, 2026

6 pm - 10 pm

Reflections Event Hall & Terrace at the Houston Zoo

For more than 35 years, Grupo Ecologista Quelonios, A.C. in Champotón, Campeche has quietly carried out one of the most extraordinary conservation efforts along the Gulf coast of Mexico.

Led by local fishermen who chose guardianship over extraction, this community transformed its livelihood into a mission: protect endangered sea turtles and ensure their survival for generations to come. With little institutional funding and sustained largely by donations and volunteers, their impact is remarkable:

Over the years since Quelonios began their work, more than 2,000,799 sea turtles released. That number represents decades of disciplined, hands-on conservation work carried out day and night under demanding conditions.

Their work is not symbolic, it is physical, relentless, and deeply committed:

• Nightly patrols across miles of dark coastline searching for nesting mothers

• Careful relocation of fragile eggs to protected hatchery camps

• 45–60 days of daily incubation monitoring

• Safeguarding hatchlings during emergence

• Guided dawn and dusk releases to give each newborn the strongest chance at survival

This event is organized by volunteers and proceeds will fund sea turtle conservation and the Houston Zoo Conservation Program. Donations will go through SEE Turtles, a US-based conservation organization. 5% of the donations will go towards SEE Turtles administration costs and fees.

SEE Turtles is a 501c3 non-profit and all donations are tax deductible. You can lean more about SEE Turtles' mission, programs, and successes and to download our financial documents here. Our EIN in 81-4325149.