Sea Turtle Conservation & Environmental Education

Dear friend

Since Friday, August 14, a team from the Corcovado Foundation, coordinated with the MINAE and the Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge administration, has carried out Sea Turtle Conservation activities in this protected area. This effort seeks to promote the conservation of the populations of sea turtles that reproduce in the Central and South Pacific of Costa Rica, promoting responsible tourism and communities' participation through the sustainable use of their natural resources.

This wildlife refuge has proven to have an exceptional amount of sea turtle nesting activities. This Monday, October 26, we had registered 1,128 nesting activities, most of them: olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).

In our first patrol on the beach of Playa Punta Mala, we understood the enormous challenge and responsibility we had to protect this beach. Since then, our goal has been to preserve the most significant number of nests, release the largest number of turtles to the ocean, and create awareness among local people and tourists of the true natural heritage in this wildlife refuge.

Now we have the hatchery operating at full capacity, and we have relocated there 205 olive ridley nests and one hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) nest. To date, we have released a total of 2,261 baby turtles, including turtle eggs seized from poachers by Park Rangers in Playa Hermosa. This huge number of n demonstrates the importance of this collaboration between SINAC and the Corcovado Foundation.

On the other hand, despite the global complications that the COVID-19 pandemic has generated, and complying with all hygiene protocols, we have been able to work with national and international volunteers who have marveled at the natural treasure that protects this refuge. They leave the project satisfied that they have actively contributed to the conservation of this emblematic reptile, which has swum our seas since ancient times, and which today is dramatically threatened by human beings' activities.

Interaction with tourists entering the refuge has been important: most of them do not know that these beaches are nesting areas for sea turtles, so our constant work is to make them aware of the turtles that come to spawn. This has turned out to be incredibly positive and very well received, as everyone is captivated when they see the little turtles return to the ocean.

Definitely, the mutual support that has originated from the participation agreement between SINAC and the Corcovado Foundation, has allowed the Conservation Program to be implemented successfully, raising awareness among locals and tourists who visit the refuge and thus guaranteeing the conservation of this important species.

Your support has made our program possible.  Thank you so much!  You can adopt a nest for a loved one and we can name it after them, when the sea turtle babies are born, we will send you updates and pictures.