COSTA RICA TURTLES
The leatherback sea turtle, which can grow as long as 9 feet (2.7 meters) and 6 feet wide (1.8 meters), has inhabited this world for over 100 million years. It has outlasted the dinosaurs, the ice age and a multitude of other catastrophes.
Scientists estimate there are less than 5,000 nesting females, down from 91,000 in 1980, and that only 1 in 1,000 leatherback hatchlings survive to adult-hood. Costa Rica is one of only a few places where the leatherback sea turtle mates on a regular cycle. With that it has become an desirable spot for the eco gurus.
PRETOMA (Programa Restauracion de Tortugas Marinas) is a Costa Rican non-profit NGO that was founded in 1997. The group consists of biologists, naturalists, conservationists, and
volunteers who are dedicated to protecting and conserving sea turtles in their natural marine habitats, while also promoting sustainable fishery policies. Through conservation projects, research, public awareness, litigation and public advocacy, PRETOMA strives to conserve sea turtle populations and their natural habitats
It is vitally important that the turtle successfully lays her eggs. Noise and bright lights can frighten turtles and cause them to return to the sea. The use of flashlights or cameras is prohibited around nesting sea turtles. Seek a qualified guide to accompany you. Obtain a copy of, and obey, park rules when on the beach with turtles.
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| Sea Turtle Survival League and Caribbean Conservation - http://www.cccturtle.org |
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| La Tortuga Feliz - http://www.latortugafeliz.com La Tortuga Feliz is a non-profit organization of the protection of sea-turtles in Costa Rica. It is situated on an isolated Caribbean beach in Costa Rica, 1 km north of the mouth of the Pacuare River - Read more |
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| Osa Sea Turtle Conservation Program - http://www.osaseaturtles.org The beaches of the Osa Peninsula provide critical nesting habitat for three species of sea turtles – Chelonia mydas agassizii, commonly known as Pacific Green, Dermochelys coriacea, known as Leatherback - Read more |
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| Playa Negra (ANAI) Sea Turtle Project - http://www.ecoteach.org/Foundation/ANAI.asp Playa Negra (ANAI) Sea Turtle Project Asociación ANAI is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting the integration of biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development initiatives in tropical regions - Read more |
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| Save the Turtles, Inc - Community-based Conservation Projects - http://www.costaricaturtles.com/ Save the Turtles, Inc. (formerly named Save the Turtles of Parismina, Inc.) is a non-profit organization devoted to protecting endangered sea turtles by supporting community-based conservation projects - Read more |
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| Support Conservation Efforts in Parismina - http://www.parismina.com/ The 2008 Turtle Season is underway! Consider visiting Parismina and staying with a local family in a homestay. Volunteer to work directly with ASTOP (Association Salvamos las Tortugas de Parimina) - Read more |
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| Turtle Protection - Pacuare Nature Reserve - Costa Rica - http://www.turtleprotection.org/costa-rica/ The Pacuare Nature Reserve was established by the Endangered Wildlife Trust in 1989 and protects 800 hectares of lowland tropical rainforest and six kms. of deserted beach on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast - Read more |
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| Latin American Sea Turtles - http://www.latinamericanseaturtles.org We work with at least six species of sea turtles in Costa Rica. Leatherbacks and Hawksbills maybe found throughout the country but Green and Loggerheads are restricted to the Caribbean while Black turtles and Olive Ridley turtles can be found only in our Pacific sites - Read more |
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| Leatherback Sea Turtle - http://www.amigosdelasbaulas.org/ Amigos de Las Baulas is an outreach project, that educates the businesses, local community members and tourists living near or visiting the Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica - Read more |
Turtles
