The eight leatherback turtles that spawned in Pacuare Reserve are being monitored through satellite and acoustic transmitters that were placed by a team of researchers.
The first data obtained by Upwell, NOAA, and Reserva Pacuare, show relevant information regarding the sites that the turtles share for their nesting, such as Parismina, Pacuare beach north sector, Matina beach, Moín beach and the Pacuare reserve.
All the turtles tagged with the transmitters have remained in front of the southern Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and the city of Limón, no more than 15 km away from the beach.
Turtles nest on average every nine days and deposit approximately 80 fertile eggs and 20 sparse infertile eggs in each nest.
The importance of protecting Caribbean beaches throughout Costa Rica is confirmed because protecting a specific site is not enough to conserve the population of leatherback turtles that come to nest in the country,”
said Claudio Quesada, Reserve Research and Conservation Coordinator.
As of May 20 of this year, the Reserve counted 419 leatherback turtle nests, which translates into slightly more than 33,100 protected turtle eggs, through relocation efforts, protection in situ and in nursery, due to the rapid advance of erosion on the beach
These data show an important rebound two months after the end of the season, considering that the previous year 423 nests were protected throughout the season.
In addition, in the current nesting season (which runs from February to August) a 0% looting or illegal collection of eggs is maintained, thanks to the efforts of environmental education, conservation, monitoring and involvement of the surrounding communities.