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Conservation in Southern Costa Rica |
Conservation |
With over 25% of the country set aside to preserve wildlife & rainforest Costa Rica has lots to see. This humid region, in the pacific southwest, comprises some of the largest stands of rainforest in central America.
To contribute to a needed conservation effort contact any of the foundations, groups or hotels listed below. Find out about volunteering a few days of your vacation. Opportunities range from collecting turtle eggs, to feeding monkeys and baby sloths to planting trees. You can also work in local villages and help fix up schools and live with Costa Rican families. |
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Mysterious Wave Of Turtle Deaths |
It started like a bad dream the week before Easter: Ridley sea turtles began washing up dead on the Pavones shoreline. It continues like a Boschian nightmare, littering the seascape and eastern Golfo Dulce beaches with corpses. Forty-five turtles to date have washed up from Pavones to Punta Banco, the stench rising up the slopes in the offshore breeze, vultures, dogs, and crabs feasting on the beach. Initial speculation by conservation foundations raised the possibility that these turtles may have drowned in shrimp trawl nets. Then as the numbers mounted it became evident that this could not explain the morbidity. The fractured carapace shown in the photo above, courtesy of CECROPIA, is almost certainly the result of a lethal encounter with a propellor. Many of the dead turtles don't have visible damage, however.
 La Nación documented the spate of deaths in its April 30, edition. The red tide was raised as a possible factor in the sudden mortality. An expert discounted red tide as a possibility, stating that red tide was not known to affect turtles. The expert hedged at the end to state that until studies were undertaken, red tide could not be categorically discounted as a factor. Stomach content analysis of Olive Ridley turtles have shown these creatures are carnivorous, depending on fish, crabs, shrimp, jellyfish, and shellfish for food. While neither fish, crabs, shrimp, nor jellyfish accumulate red tide toxin, shellfish are known accumulators and concentrators of the neurotoxin. As a preliminary theory in pursuit of a comprehensive explanation, foraging on tainted shellfish may be part of the explanation of the observed turtle morbidity. Stomach content analysis of two dead individuals is presently being undertaken by PRETOMA (Programa de Restauración de Tortugas Marinas), , so this theory is being tested as this edition goes to press. It is clear that the deaths are not restricted to the southeastern shores of the Gulf. Aussie Mike, a Matapalo tour guide, reports having come across three dead floaters in the waters around the rock at the cape. CECROPIA reports that there have been seven turtles reported on this side of the gulf to date, none of them with
visible damage that may have been caused by a propellor. According to Hector Gonz?lez, CECROPIA, "Even though there is no clear relationship between boats and deaths, I think it is safe to assume that turtles, numb and intoxicated from the red tide, cannot move quickly enough to escape approaching boats. I also believe that Crocodile Bay (or anybody else operating boats) should ask their captains to slow down and move farther away from the shoreline."
According to a survey carried out by PRETOMA, from October to December, 2000, more than 400 sea turtles washed up on 11 beaches of north Pacific Costa Rica. Most of the turtles were far too decomposed to reach any conclusion on cause of death. However, in 80 cases, cause of death was clearly associeated with fishery activities, like longlines, gillnets, and trawls.
According to Isabel Naranjo, biologist at PRETOMA tissue samples have been collected and are in the process of analysis. PRETOMA authorities indicate that to perform a comprehensive autopsy that can pinpoint the cause of death, it is necessary to have a recently deceased corpse. If you come across a freshly dead turtle and are willing to fish it out of the water and ice it down, bring it to either Cecropia or CafeNet El Sol, and we will freeze the corpse and deliver it to the proper authorities. Freshly dead or dying, only, please. We look forward to the publication of the tissue analysis and pathologic interpretations when such information is released and will provide continuing updates until the phenomenon is understood and measures are put in place, if possible, to minimize the possibility of future recurrences.
Article courtesy of PD Collar, Courtesy of El Sol de Osa The Osa Peninsula’s Newspaper
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