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Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Placement number:  0036
Location: Costa Rica 
Preferred Languages:  Spanish and English 
Date: Gandoca March - August 15th
           Playa Negra March -November
Minimum Period: 1 week

We are operating three turtle projects in the South Caribbean side of Costa Rica in the region of Talamanca.   

See below for Volunteer Story - members may contact Pam (contact details in members box).

 

Since 1986, the Marine Program has been working to protect the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting population at Gandoca beach in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.

The project activities run from the beginning of March through to the end of July each year to cover the Leatherback sea turtle nesting season. The peak nesting period for the turtles is April/May with the first hatchling turtles emerging from mid May through to the end of September. The number of nesting adult female turtles arriving on the beach drops from June until the end of July. Gandoca beach also received small numbers of nesting Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle during the nesting season.

The Cahuita - Playa Negra project started in 2000 after it was realized that the area is an important nesting site for the critically endangered Leatherback turtle and Hawksbill turtles. As in Gandoca, until recently sea turtle nesting populations at Cahuita remained unknown to the scientific community  and the harvesting of eggs by the local population occurred to a large extent. The poaching of turtle eggs, increasing coastal development, pollution and beach erosion have all become serious threats to the sea turtles of the region. Although the project and data taken from it are new, it is estimated that like Gandoca in the early 80’s, over 99% of turtle eggs were taken annually from the nesting beaches of Cahuita and Playa Negra. Although the taking of eggs has no immediate effect on the number of turtles nesting, the population could collapse in 20-50 years when no new females return to nest.

 

Role of Volunteer

 

Volunteers are encouraged to join us at any point during the season. Over the fourteen years, our project has welcomed students, travelers and professionals from countries from around the world who have an interest in hands-on conservation and data collection work with an endangered species. Volunteers can commit from a week up to several months of their time participating in our program in Gandoca.

The main work of the volunteers involves night patrols and hatchery shifts. Other daytime work at the project in Gandoca may involve beach cleanup and small projects including initial construction of the hatcheries. There are two nightly patrols from 8pm to 12 midnight and 12 midnight to 4am where a shift of volunteers led by an experienced patrol leader walk a sector of the 11 km beach searching for nesting females.

The approximate incubation time for Leatherback Turtle eggs is 60 days, therefore midway through the season the duties of the hatchery attendants increases as the hatchlings begin to emerge. At this time, all nests in the hatcheries must be checked every 30 minutes and if hatchlings are encountered they must be counted and released in the evening to an appropriate location along the high tide line and watched until they reach the sea. Hatchlings are never released directly to the sea.

Cost

 

Accommodation in Gandoca

March 1- August 15, 2008

Inscription fee: $35

Minimum stay: 6 nights

Stay options in Gandoca:

Accommodation fee includes:

Option A:

Accommodation with local families:

Residencia Baulas: $17

Cabinas Orquídeas: $17

Chavelo: $17

Maria Baltodano: $17

Cabinas Navely: $17

Cabinas Rincocito: $17

The money for your stay goes directly to the families, WIDECAST doesn’t get anything. It’s for the development of the local community so that they understand that they do not have to poach eggs to get money but can earn more by cooperating with WIDECAST. By staying with local families, you get an opportunity to get insight into the Caribbean culture and the normal life of a Costa Rican family, and you can practice your Spanish. You choose your accommodation upon arrival in Gandoca; the local coordinator will show you all available houses and then you decide where you want to stay.

1. Rooms are shared with other volunteers

2. All meals cooked by the families- food is included!!!

3. Volunteers get their own bed

4. An opportunity to speak Spanish

5. Sharing the facilities at the house, electricity, clean drinking water, washing and toilet facilities.

Option B:

WIDECAST Sea Turtle Field Station:

$17

($13 if you stay longer than one month and you want to be emergent research assistant)

1. Rooms are shared with other volunteers

2. Food is included

3. Volunteers get their own bed

4. Toilet facilities, drinking water etc.

Solar panels provide limited electricity, but we cannot ensure available electricity the whole day.

Option C:

Campsite at local farm (Marias Farm).

There are two options:

1: $8 if you bring your own tent (food is not included)

2: $8 if you rent a tent from the camping owner

(food is not included)

1. Covered campsite

2. Cooking stove with basic dishes to cook

3. Covered cooking and eating area

4. Drinking water (from well)

5. Basic toilet and washing facilities

Option D:

Locally run cabins.

$ 35 per day per person

1. Cabin with two or three beds.

2. Toilet facilities in each cabin

3. Electricity

4. Clean Drinking water

5. Food is included 

Travel

Fly to San Jose then take the bus to Talamanca. Or we can pick up volunteers from the airport for USD20 before 10pm and USD25 after 10pm.

Volunteer Story

Placement 0036 - Sea Turtles -  Costa Rica

March 2008

This was a great adventure and sometimes like the show "Survivor."  The work was sometimes challenging but very rewarding.  Gandoca is fairly remote, but the community that the volunteers stay within is very friendly and it was a good experience to see how the locals live.  (The worst part for me was adjusting to cold water only showers).  This is also a very good opportunity to practice Spanish.  It was nice to meet so many like-minded people from different parts of the world and come together as a team.  I learned so much about sea turtles and having the opportunity to see and help those dedicated to saving the Leatherbacks was amazing.  I've already booked my trip to return in May 2008 - but to Cahuita this time.  If anyone wants more information (ie: what to pack, tips, etc), please feel free to contact me.    (Members may contact Pam - by clicking link in members box.)

 

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