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An Introduction to the Leatherback Project at Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica

Parque Nacional Las Baulas, Costa Rica.

 

The Las Baulas National Park on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is one of the world's few remaining sites of significant leatherback turtle nesting activity. The numbers of these giant, marine reptiles are declining world-wide and they have disappeared completely from many historically important nesting areas. Various human activities including beachside development, poaching of eggs and accidental capture by fishing vessels have driven the species close to extinction. The Las Baulas (Spanish for Leatherback turtle) project in Costa Rica is dedicated to protecting and understanding the population of turtles nesting in the National Park so that the species may be saved. The project takes place each year during the nesting season from late September to March. The Principal Investigators are Dr. Frank V. Paladino from Indiana Purdue University, Dr. James R. Spotila and Dr. Richard Reina, both from Drexel University, Pennsylvania. Students, local community members and volunteers from the non-profit organisation Earthwatch come to work with the national environment ministry, Ministerio del Ambiente y Energia (MINAE) to protect nesting turtles and collect vital information on nesting biology. This information is shared with MINAE and the general scientific community in order to develop the most effective strategies for management and conservation of the endangered population.

The broad aims of the project are;

• To identify the size and status of the nesting leatherback turtle population
• To protect nesting female turtles and their nests from poachers and predators
• To work with the Costa Rican authorities to develop effective management and conservation strategies
• To improve understanding of leatherback biology through quality scientific research

  These aims are achieved by;

• Patrolling the nesting beach each night and identifying all turtles which nest
• Assisting park guards in control of tourists and other people on the beach
• Meeting with local and government National Park authorities and members of the local communities to distribute information and provide advice in conservation issues
• Undertaking a variety of research projects to investigate reproductive biology, population genetics, physiology and other important areas of biology

Select an option to the left to learn more about the people, location and activities taking place at Las Baulas.