Our Projects
Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Playa Tortuga is primarily an Olive Ridley turtle nesting beach (although it is possible that other species occasionally arrive), and thanks to the efforts of the Reserve, was officially declared a nesting beach in 2014.
On the South Pacific beaches of Osa Costa Rica there are 4 species of sea turtles which can potentially be seen nesting at different times of the year:
Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea),
Green (Chelonia mydas),
Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).
THEY ARE ALL IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION.
The nesting period extends from July to December, with the peak of nesting in the months of September and October. During this period it is possible to observe an individual turtle nesting every other night, sometimes up to two or three at a time. Due to an inherent poaching threat, most nests are moved to the Reserve’s protected nursery/hatchery where staff and volunteers monitor and observe the area 24/7.
In the hatchery, important data about the biology of the turtles’ nests is gathered, such as the incubation period, nest temperature and how this influences the sex of the hatchlings, as well as observing environmental factors such as precipitation and physical environmental factors. In the past two seasons we have successfully protected over 140 nests and released 5,000+ hatchlings (each nest contains on average 100 eggs).
Ask Us About This Project
Hi Future Conservationist!
Your support is important to implementing, maintaining and growing the programs of research and education that our organization carries out with the purpose of conserving Costa Rica’s natural resources.
Pura Vida, Oscar
More Projects
Environmental Education & Outreach
The curriculum seeks to be adapted and correlated with the school curriculum emanated by the Ministry of Public Education. read more
Tree Boas Population Study
As part of the research, we are conducting night walks in the forest to spot and catch boas, measure them and tag individuals by use of pit tags. read more
Mammal Inventory Project
Mammals are important for the forest dynamic balance, and by getting data on their behavior, diet and local movements, it offers information that can be used in reforestation plans to establish Biological Corridors. read more
Crocodilian Monitoring Project
The main objective of this study is to collect real-time information about the Crocodilians at the Reserve area: their distribution, relationship with the environment, and the human impact on the ecosystem. read more
Birds Monitoring Project
Bird observations are made in the surroundings of the Reserve and Ojochal town, in order to maintain a good record and an updated list of the different species of birds that inhabit or frequent nearby areas to the Reserve. read more
Butterfly Garden Project
Teaching about concepts such as the life cycle of insects, the ecological role they play in nature and the biological and cultural relationships they maintain. read more