COPROT Tortugas de Osa

COPROT is a sea turtle conservation project located on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica that prioritizes community involvement, education, and activism.

COPROT Tortugas de Osa

A Photo Blog by Gwen Fluhr

(Photo Below) Here we (Arthur and Gwen) visited the hatchery for the olive ridley sea turtle nests (small sea turtles). No, the turtles are not that organized. Laura explained that this system allows COPROT staff to keep track of and protect the nests from predators (humans included). The field workers hang out during the day and stay up overnight (awake) in an enclosed hut with direct access to the hatchery until the vulnerable eggs hatch and the baby turtles are out to sea.

Field team members from COPROT dig up the nests from the beach (intertidal areas) and relocate them to the gridwork layout attempting to replicate the original nest in an upside-down lightbulb shape (depth of about 45 cm). Each square can hold one nest (300 total) but they tend to space them out checkerboard style to provide a healthier environment. They also remove and replace all the sand between hatching seasons to prevent contamination.

Global warming has set the trend towards more females hatching since temperatures determine the sex of the turtles (Higher – females; lower – males). Therefore, they will eventually place a roof overhead to cool the temps and encourage more males to keep the gene pool thriving. Plastics also can cause a huge problem for turtle survival.

A bamboo woven nest protector is especially helpful in the dry season when there are fewer nests and a high prevalence of dogs.

Laura found green turtle tracks and went to investigate the scene. She explained that green sea turtles tend to pull themselves forward on both fins evenly so that the marks look similar to tire tracks, whereas the smaller, green ridley alternate their flippers with distinct tracks.

In this example, the green turtle decided this space was not optimal and returned to the sea to try another time and place. Green sea turtles prefer nesting in the vegetation and can be pretty particular about where they end up. Anything from driftwood to too much plastic can deter them from settling in a specific area.

The staff of COPROT identified a green turtle nest that happened to be around 10 days overdue. They needed to check on the nest to see if there were any survivors since no one happened to witness it hatch or see any tracks.

At first, it looked as though all the hatchlings may have already abandoned the nest leaving only rotten eggs to view and smell. However, after digging, they found a baby turtle who survived. We named this one Lucky and watched and cheered as it made its way. We were all super excited to see Lucky safely out to sea!

In our four episode story series, Laura Exley, founder of COPROT, shared with us an incredible story of her journey since graduating high school unsure of her future plans to conserving sea turtle habitats in Costa Rica. From singing in Thailand, to working at a stray dog rescue, learning Spanish while working as a research assistant in Mexico, and much more, her story is full of adventures. Laura also shares the origins, struggles, and successes of COPROT since its beginnings in 2018.

Below are the Sustainable Development Goals Laura identified and spoke about in our conversation. Additional SDGs prioritized by COPROT are identified on their website, www.tortugasdeosa.org

SDG 4: Quality Education

Education enhances people's understanding and ability to improve their lives and the lives of others. It reduces inequalities and lays a foundation for sustained economic growth.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Achieving gender equality empowers women and girls, leading to economic benefits across societies. It fosters peace and helps to drive sustainable development.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequality

Investments in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and development, helping to foster sustainable industries and enhance research and innovation.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

Urban areas are growing rapidly. Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable is crucial to preventing negative environmental impacts and providing quality life for all residents.