Meet The Team Protecting Costa Rica's Sea Turtle Mecca
Nearly all species of sea turtles are endangered, but Tortuguero, a small island on the eastern coast of Costa Rica, offers a safe place for nesting green and leatherback sea turtles. It was here in 1959 that Dr. Archie Carr opened the world's first turtle conservancy. To this day, the island is one of the world's most important breeding grounds for these turtles. We made the arduous journey there to watch the next generation hit the waves. Go baby sea turtles, go!
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This story is a part of our Planet Earth series. From mammals to insects and birds to reptiles, we share this great big world with all manner of creatures, large and small. Come with us to faraway places as we explore our great big planet and meet some of its wildest inhabitants.
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Baby turtles in Tortuguero, Costa Rica
We were lucky to see a nest of baby turtles hatching and crawling out to sea on Tortuguero beach, Costa Rica. I believe these are baby Green Turtles (not positive though).
We saw the baby turtles around 430 PM walking on Tortuguero beach on our own in November. By November the turtle nestings are pretty much over but babies hatching were more common.
Read more about Tortuguero, Costa Rica and Tortuguero turtles here:
Sea turtle release in Tortuguero, Costa Rica
The Sea Turtle Conservancy in Tortuguero, Costa Rica had kept this beautiful turtle overnight after she had laid her eggs to educate the public and to put a monitor on her back so they can continue to learn from her. On July 1, the official start of nesting season, people flocked from hundreds of miles away to witness her release. By doing this, the Sea Turtle Conservancy raises awareness for the turtles' need for clean beaches and water and creates new bonds between people and nature.
Turtles of Tortuguero
Set along Costa Rica's northeastern Caribbean coast, Tortuguero is the most important nesting site for the endangered green sea turtle in the Western Hemisphere. The green sea turtle population dropped very low in the 1960s, when hordes of turtles were killed for their meat and used as food. These days the green turtle is making a slow comeback, thanks in part to the hard work of conservation agencies in Costa Rica and other countries.
Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead sea turtles also nest at Tortuguero. As a traveler here, you may be able to witness these ancient creatures along the Tortuguero shoreline. Flashlights and photography are not allowed, however, as they interfere with the nesting process.
Females nest at night. They crawl out of the ocean and find a dry spot to lay their eggs. They then use their flippers to dig a hole and deposit their eggs into the hole. On average, a female sea turtle will lay 80 to 120 eggs. Most females will nest twice during the nesting season. Once the mother has left her nest, she will never return to it.
Once all the eggs are in the chamber, the mother will use her flippers to cover it with sand. Barring predators, the eggs will hatch in about 60 days and the baby turtles will begin their perilous trek towards the ocean.
Tortuguero is a special place in Costa Rica. As a traveler here, you have the possibility of witnessing one of nature's most spectacular and ancient rituals—the nesting (and eventual hatching) of sea turtles.
To learn more about sea turtles in Costa Rica, please visit the following page: For turtle nesting tours in Costa Rica, go here:
Turtle Conservation Costa Rica | Positive Footprints | World Nomads
There are few sights cuter than that of a baby turtle make its way across a beach to the ocean. On the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, conservationists and volunteers from The Sea Turtle Conservancy are working to save generations of sea turtles. Founded in 1959, the organisation educates visitors about the importance of saving turtles, and the income generated by their interest has created a tourism industry proving to locals that the sea turtles have more value alive than dead. This work will ensure there will be plenty more sea turtles for future generations of visitors to learn about.
This film was a finalist in the 4th Shorty Social Good Awards.
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9YO reading info in his sea-turtle adoption folder (Sea Turtle Conservancy; Tortuguero, Costa Rica)
Sea Turtle Conservation Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
These clips were taken during a recent student trip to LAST (Latin America Sea Turtles) Association's In The Water sea turtle conservation project in Golfo Dulce. Volunteers have the opportunity for hands-on experiences with endangered sea turtles.
Green Turtle Release in Tortuguero
On July 4th, 2014 researchers from the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) attached a satellite transmitter to an adult green turtle who had just finished nesting and then released her back into the water in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. You can follow her migration online at
Baby sea turtle, Tortuguero, Costa Rica
This is some footage I shot in 2007 of a baby sea turtle beginning it's life and hurrying into the ocean!
Sea turtle hatchling in Tortuguero, Costa Rica makes it to the ocean.
Green sea turtle hatchling climbs out of its nest during a daytime nest excavation. This one and a couple other stragglers found their way to the ocean a day or two after about 90 fellow hatchlings. I filmed this video while I was working as a volunteer with the Sea Turtle Conservancy in September of 2017 at Tortuguero's black sand beach in the Northeastern corner of Costa Rica.
Green Sea Turtle Hatchling Heading to Sea- Tortuguero, Costa Rica
While doing a nest excavation for the Sea Turtle Conservancy, we found a few hatchlings that had remained in the nest. I filmed one's journey as it headed to sea. Enjoy!
Turtle eggs collected limitedly in Costa Rica for sake of conservation
Under government permission, villagers collected 1 to 5 percent of the eggs laid by Olive Ridley turtles on Costa Rica’s Pacific beach of Ostional over the first weekend of November.
As a routine, the eggs were put into gunny sacks and got cleaned in sea water.
When back on coast, they were traded for cash to support the collectors’ families, or even became nutritious meals on their tables.
During the nesting season from July through December each year, limited egg collection was a unique way for Costa Rica to help the endangered species sustain safe and orderly.
(Soundbite) Mauricio Mendez, Marine Biologist
“This beach has very high concentrations of organic materials. This contributes to large amounts of micro organisms which lead to faster decomposition of the eggs. Therefore the community is permitted to harvest eggs. This helps reduce the amounts of organic materials in the sand (and better protect the eggs).”
In another precaution, eggs already laid might be dug out or smashed by newcomers, due to the high numbers of upcoming pregnant turtles.
While gathering eggs, the villagers were also devoted to cleaning the beach and patrolling day and night against poachers.
Thus, a dependable cycle is maintained for the Ostional Wildlife Refuge, one of the two most important sites in the world for hatching of the rare animal.
SAVING TURTLES | TORTUGUERO, COSTA RICA | DARTBOARD ADVENTURES
Our Instagram following voted we volunteer at a turtle sanctuary. Here's the video!
EP6: Trip to La Tortuga Feliz, Costa Rica - First Day of Sea Turtle Conservation & Rescue Project
Finally, my adventures of volunteering to save the sea turtles. Here's what happened on Day 1. Sorry for the long video, but lots happened. Not sure what I signed up for, but i'm sure it's for a great cause.
Anyone who wants to get involved with sea turtle conservation, click on any of the links below. More videos to come, so please subscribe and get notified!
Please visit my channel with over 150 Videos and new ones added regularly:
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Tourists interrupt turtle reproduction season 'Arribada' in Costa Rica
Thousands of turtles have arrived at the Ostional coastline of Costa Rica, in the annual wildlife phenomenon Arribada. Report by Claire Lomas.
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Mass Hatch of Turtles Ostional, Costa Rica
Sea Turtles Hatching - Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica (Part 2)
Baby sea turtles hatching from a mound of eggs at Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. This mound was located just down the beach from another turtle laying eggs (see separate video). It appeared that dozens of turtles hatched from this spot, but they were already well into it by the time we walked up.
(Part 1 of 2)
Sea Turtle Research in Costa Rica
I had the opportunity to work with researchers at the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, from May 17-25, 2013. It was amazing!
This video focuses largely on leatherback sea turtles and their nesting habits.
Conservancy website:
Preview of Carl Safina's book on Google Books:
HELPING BABY TURTLES TO THE OCEAN IN TORTUGUERO ???? | COSTA RICA | INTREPID TRAVEL | NATASHA ATLAS
I've arrived in Costa Rica!! We're hitting the road to Tortuguero. Home of turtles. It takes 3 buses and a boat to get there. If Paradise was easy to get to, it wouldn't be paradise. Totally worth it.
#CostaRica #IntrepidTravel #Turtles #Tortuguero
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Volunteering with Sea Turtles in Costa Rica
Come to Costa Rica to take part in sea turtle conservation and protection! Pura Vida!