Sea Turtle Eco Volunteer Experience in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

The black sand beach of Tortuguero draws the largest nesting population of green turtles, Chelonia mydas, in the Atlantic Ocean. Weighing up to 500 pounds (200 kilograms) green turtles are among the largest sea turtles in the world.

STC studies have solved many of the mysteries of green turtle reproductive ecology and behavior. Long-term tagging at Tortuguero during the nesting months facilitates monitoring of the nesting population to evaluate the survival status of the species. Eco-Volunteer Participants will work with nesting turtles weighing up to 350 pounds and measuring 3 to 4 feet in length.

Eco-Volunteer Participants will assist with:
Nightly beach patrols
Work as part of a nesting survey team to help tag and record data about the nesting turtles. This includes measuring turtles, counting eggs, and marking nests. The presence of tagging teams on the beach also acts as a strong deterrent to poachers and egg collectors.

Morning nest surveys
Walk the beach in the morning to check the status of nests marked during previous night patrols.

Nest inventories
Assist with determination of nest survivorship and hatching success through nest inventories.

Learn more at https://conserveturtles.org/green-tur...