Puerto Vallarta is strengthening efforts to protect one of its most distinctive native species after authorities and environmental volunteers discovered and removed 17 illegal traps from wetlands and other natural areas across the municipality.
The traps were designed to capture the Puerto Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti), a species found only in this region and protected under Mexican environmental legislation. The recent discoveries have raised concern about illegal wildlife collection in streams, lagoons and wetlands within the urban area.
The latest operation took place Sunday, August 9, at Coapinole Lagoon. Residents participating in community reforestation and tree-planting activities near the retention basin noticed suspicious activity in the water, including ropes and nets being carried into the lagoon.
Their report led to an inspection by Puerto Vallarta’s Department of Environmental Sustainability, together with Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa). Federal authorities oversee the lagoon because it is a protected ecosystem.
Inspectors searched the perimeter of the lagoon and found two metal traps. Four turtles from the Kinosternon genus were inside one of them, including a reproductive-age female identified as a member of Puerto Vallarta’s native mud turtle population. The animals were recovered as part of the environmental response.
Officials also found a damaged section of chain-link fencing near the volleyball courts. The opening appears to be providing unauthorized access to the protected area, creating another challenge for the conservation of the lagoon.
Coapinole Lagoon is an important habitat for a variety of wildlife protected by Mexican law. Illegal trapping can remove animals from the ecosystem and interfere with the natural balance of the wetland, making continued monitoring especially important.
The two traps found this week are part of a larger pattern. The environmental group Estudiantes Conservando la Naturaleza (Students Conserving Nature) has previously dismantled 15 similar devices in different parts of Puerto Vallarta.
The continued discovery of traps suggests that wildlife collectors are targeting natural areas within the municipality. For conservation groups and authorities, community participation remains an important tool for identifying suspicious activity before more vulnerable species are removed from their habitats.
Environmental officials reminded residents that capturing, keeping or selling protected wildlife without authorization is a federal crime in Mexico. Depending on the circumstances, violations can result in substantial fines and imprisonment.
Residents can help protect the Puerto Vallarta Mud Turtle by reporting suspicious traps, nets or other installations found around streams, wetlands and lagoons. Early reports allow authorities and conservation groups to investigate quickly and remove potential threats to local wildlife.
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