Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation on the Pacific coast of Guatemala
ARCAS is the principal Guatemala NGO concerned with wildlife rescue and conservation. Its wildlife rescue center in the northern region of Peten is one of the largest and most complete rescue centers in the Americas. On the other side of the country, on the Pacific coast, ARCAS is a leader in sea turtle and mangrove conservation. It has established the 10,000+ acre Hawaii marine protected area, and is participating in the creation of the Las Lisas protected area, both homes to the most important sea turtle nesting beaches and mangrove wetlands on the Pacific coast. In 1995, ARCAS took over the administration of the Hawaii Park and Hatchery, rescuing and incubating the olive ridley, leatherback and green turtles, and other marine fauna that habituate the area. It has since developed Hawaii into a leader in sea turtle conservation and research in Guatemala, and supports conservation and research efforts along the entire Pacific coast.