Olive Ridley Turtles Are Nesting on Costa Rica's South Pacific Beaches

Olive Ridley Turtles Are Nesting on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Beaches

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On the southern Pacific beaches in and around Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, there are four types of sea turtles that nest at different times of the year:

Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea),
Green (Chelonia mydas),
Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

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All of these are in danger of extinction, mainly due to human pollution and other human intrusions in their marine and coastal environments.

Playa Tortuga is primarily an Olive Ridley turtle nesting beach, although other species occasionally arrive. It was officially declared a nesting beach in 2014, thanks to efforts by the non-profit environmental organization, the Tortuga Beach Reserve Scientific Conservation and Research Center, established in 2009.

The Olive Ridley turtle nesting period on the Pacific coast lasts from July to December, and the first turtle was spotted this year at the end of June.

The peak nesting occurs in September and October, during which time one to three turtles can be seen nesting on average every other night, said the reserve on their website.

Due to persistent poaching threats, most nests are moved to the reserve’s protected nursery/hatchery where staff and volunteers monitor and observe the area round the clock.

In the hatchery, important data about the biology of the turtles’ nests is gathered. This includes the incubation period, nest temperature, and the sex of the hatchlings, as well as observing environmental factors such as precipitation and physical environmental factors.

In the past two seasons, the reserve, with the help of local and international volunteers, has successfully protected over 140 nests and released over 5,000 hatchlings. Each nest contains on average 100 eggs.

The reserve’s mission is to create awareness of the the importance of conserving nature, and the role we all play in achieving sustainable management of natural resources. They work by creating “a culture of environmental responsibility by generating knowledge and actions that directly involve communities.”

Playa Tortuga is located near the quaint town of Ojochal, south of Uvita and near the Osa Peninsula along Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast.

Olive Ridley Turtles Are Nesting on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Beaches

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