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Curious Cats and Offshore Oil Opposition
Leatherback nesting at Tortuguero now appears to have reached its peak. So far the research assistants and the program participants have logged 93 leatherback encounters. This is a very good result for late April and the RAs have their eyes set on the record of 144 leatherback encounters from the 1997 nesting season. The diligent work of RAs and participants has also resulted in 37 marked leatherback nests. A couple of nests have been washed over by waves, some have even been washed out and a low percentage of nests have been poached. Still, the majority of the nests appeared to still be developing. It may be that the dry weather has resulted in high sand temperature that may affect the survivorship of the eggs but we have to wait until hatching to determine this for sure.
Green turtle nesting appears to increase too. However, we are expecting this year to be low in green turtle nesting in comparison to last year's hectic nesting season.
Research assistants Freya St John, Phil Allman and Sarah Gaines cleaning equipment in preparation for the night patrols.
| In the southern end of the National Park, we have temporarily suspended our night patrols, giving RAs time to clean research equipment. The curious jaguars started to follow the research assistants at night and although this is common jaguar behavior and does not indicate that they are looking at humans for prey, it is quite understandable that the RAs were getting nervous. Walking along a remote section of beach in the pitch black and knowing a large predator is walking behind you is not a pleasant feeling. Hopefully, the night patrols will be reinitiated along the Jalova beach section once there are enough park rangers to conduct joint night patrols. Although the jaguars are very unlikely to pose a threat to the turtle taggers, it is also important that the RAs feel comfortable patrolling at night. The escort of an armed park ranger should make the RAs confidence return.
The park rangers have done a great job so far this season. Their Easter week effort resulted in the detention of various poachers and a couple of days ago they again arrested outsiders coming to Tortuguero in search of turtle eggs. This time the poachers had not had time to find any nests by the time the rangers encountered them. Still, the rangers confiscated the empty sacks the poachers were carrying and escorted the poachers out of the National Park. It seems like every year there are fewer poachers and the park rangers are getting more efficient at their protection work for each nesting season that passes.
Environmental education at the Tortuguero High School.
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Another threat to the Tortuguero sea turtles is also becoming better known in the area. The plans for oil exploration in the sea, south of Tortuguero National Park are still proceeding. The opposition amongst local people is massive and CCC has provided technical assistance to groups opposing the oil exploration plans. We have also conducted environmental education activities at the Tortuguero school and high school to inform students about the possible impacts that offshore oil exploration may have on the area's sea turtles.
The Tortuguero school children have made a banner to inform villagers and tourists about the oil exploration threat.
| This and other information have resulted in the school students actively lobbying against oil exploration. They have talked to their parents and family members and even prepared signs and banners in protest to the planned exploration activities.All around the Tortuguero village, visitors can read "No to oil exploration, yes to nature" and other slogans in favor of conservation and against oil drilling. The school children have prepared the largest banner and it hangs just in front of the school where every visitor to the village can see how local people feel about offshore oil exploration.
Hopefully resistance by local people and the added technical support by the CCC and other groups will make the Costa Rican government aware of the fact that the people of the Caribbean coast are not interested in offshore oil exploration. They want to continue living from ecotourism and show the world that long-term conservation and ecotourism can provide more benefits than short term oil profits.
More on impressive encounters next time.
Hasta Pronto,
Sebastian Troëng
Research Coordinator
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