Sea Turtle Conservation & Environmental Education

Rincon de San Josecito is an isolated beach in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. There are 1,7km for three species of sea turtles to nest here, Olive Ridley, Green and Hawksbill. But there are also many factors that make this beach not very safe for those nests. Threatens like poachers, horses, beach rivers, high tides and predators.

OSA Foundation created the Mama Carey Project 12 years ago to protect this beach. In 2017 an alliance between OSA and Corcovado Foundation happened, allowing the project to evolve.

The mission of the project is to protect these priceless nests by patrolling the beach every night and building a hatchery where to place the eggs. As well as doing environmental education and English classes with the local people and weekly beach cleaning.

The season has started in very challenging way this year. The truck that was bringing the equipment for our kitchen from San Jose was not able to get through the muddy mountains in the way to the project. So, we had to contact a tractor to get through this obstacle. All this delayed the delivery in three days and the equipment arrived together with the first volunteers. So as a first activity all together we set up our new kitchen and made it a more cozy place for our meals and daily gatherings.

During the next two weeks we focus our efforts on building the nursery, which requires a lot of work. First, we had to remove all the sand in an area of 7x6.3x1 square meters, which takes about two days, then put it back through a strainer, which adds another six days. Finally, when all the sand is in its proper place we assemble the whole structure of the nursery with bamboo and mesh to protect the nests of the natural predators and the dogs of the place.

Among the nursery we built an unusual event. Near the project area there is a lagoon, which with heavy winter rains overflows and forms a river that cuts the beach. With the onset of storms the water level rose a lot, so we had to dig for a whole morning to direct the flow of water away from the nursery area and avoid a catastrophe in the middle of the season. The process was very laborious, but very fun, because we could use the chain, which gained more and more strength, like a toboggan. When the lagoon finally broke we took our distance, becase the current was dangerously strong and began to swallow the great dead trees that floated by. It was a very humbling experience to see all that natural force in action.

Once the nursery is finished we start with the normal schedule of two patrols per day, varying according to the tides to two patrols at night or a night and a day (census). In addition with the arrival of the second group of volunteers in the second fortnight we began the construction of a protective barrier in front of the nursery. Since in September we usually receive very high tides and the waves can enter the nursery damaging the eggs, the barrier was built with driftwood, bamboo and rope; also has a moat in the front to decrease the force of water before reaching the barrier.

The patrols were very hard at first because of the large amount of rain, and our assistant became ill and had to be removed for ten days, which increased our workload. But with determination and love for the turtles we managed to handle everything and were rewarded by the appearance of a hawksbill, very rare in this region, which encouraged us and gave more determination to the next challenges and adventures of this season. In August the frequency of nesting turtles has increased greatly and we are filling the nursery very fast. We also started our English classes and environmental education with the local children, who are very excited to collaborate with the project.

For the next few months we plan to do environmental education with the tourists on a busiest beach in the area and create a presentation talking about the zero residue movement to educate local merchants and residents.

And so we hope to continue doing our part in creating a more sustainable and friendly world for our beloved sea turtles!