Panama Wildlife Conservation
The Sea Turtle Directory
Country: Panama
Organization / Project Name: Panama Wildlife Conservation
Website: https://panamawildlife.org
Email: info@panamawildlife.org
Description: Playa Malena is one of Panama’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches, hosting olive ridley, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles. Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers, up to 50,000 eggs have been protected in a single season, achieving over 90% hatching success. Panama Wildlife Conservation (PWC) supports sea turtle conservation at Playa Malena by backing the long-standing community work led by Mrs Ana and the Asociación Conservacionista de Playa Malena. With more than 20 years of continuous effort, the association is now witnessing turtles born on this beach returning as adults to nest. Playa Malena remains a remote and authentic destination, offering basic services and community-run hostels, highlighting the vital role of local leadership and responsible tourism in protecting marine biodiversity.
Species of focus: Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), Olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Volunteer program: Yes
Tourist activities (Y/N): Yes
Primary Areas of Work: Toxin sampling, Environmental education/community outreach, Nesting beach monitoring, Community development, Beach protection
Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/panama.wildlife.conservation/