DEC

Green turtles like the other four species of turtles nesting on Playa Norte are listed as endangered (with hawksbills and leatherbacks listed as critically endangered). The photo below, like the photo in the background of my blog title, shows a green turtle how we typically imagine them.

Taken from:
http://www.volunteer-conservation-thailand.org/photos/.

This is what the only green turtle found two nights ago on night patrol looked like. Because we can't use cameras on night patrol these pictures were taken yesterday morning. 

At first we were unsure of what happened. How did she get there? Why would someone poaching a turtle just leave her out on the beach without collecting her? But after speaking to some of the people who live by the beach where she was found, apparently she washed up yesterday evening around 5pm. 

Our station manager, Charlotte, reading the turtles tags.

There were holes made in her fins where they were bound,
the front ones attached with a rope to each of the back ones.

Some of the community members told us that they called MINAET (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications) and the police to report it, but because it was already dead and washed up there is nothing they can do about it. Unfortunately, another washed up again yesterday evening. From what we have heard there may have been a boat caught offshore by the coast guard which abandoned the turtles and threw them overboard.

These have been the first records of a "DEC" - meaning deceased - turtle that we have had so far this year. Right now Sarah has been helping to put together posters to be put up in the community to help explain how horrible a death these turtles face when they are poached. Many community members think that killing turtles is wrong but until they actually see pictures do not realize the extent of what is actually happening to the turtles right in their backyards. So hopefully with these posters more awareness will be raised about what is happening on Playa Norte. Here are two out of seven posters that have been put together so far.

"How beautiful...
What are we doing with such a beautful animal?
Hunters are killing our future...
Do not give support to hunters.
Do not purchase turtle eggs or meat."

"Hunters are killing our future...
Do not give support to hunters.
Report them to this number..."

For a country that is so dependent on tourism and ecotourism I hope that these pictures help spread the word, even a little bit, about some of the not-so-pleasant realities here in Costa Rica.


For more information on green sea turtles visit: http://www.conserveturtles.org/sea-turtle-information.php?page=green.

Identification.

In honour of Canada day, I thought it was appropriate to post our latest blog assignment given to us by our internship program at York University which was to discuss our experiences when asked the question "where are you from" in the country each of us is visiting.


In Costa Rica there have been a few cases that I can think of when I've been asked that question, and I think my response almost always causes confusion - possibly more so for me rather than the person asking. 


The first instance that made me chuckle was when we had a group visiting the station from the U.S. When they arrived I was asked the question by one of the professors, "where are you originally from?". This one really threw me for a loop. "From Canada", I replied, a confused look still on my face. As I tried to look for any sort of comprehension of what I said, I realized he didn't mean to ask where I'm from, he meant where did you get the colour of your skin. It was then that I had to explain my story - the one I try to avoid because it sometimes seems unnecessary. My parents are from Jamaica and Trinidad. I spent some time in both countries as a child. I was born in Canada and have lived there for the past 14 years. As much as I identify with the Jamaican and Trinidadian populations, I definitely consider myself Canadian - especially with how diverse the Canadian population is. This is amplified even more being here with Shenique who is an international student from Jamaica. With her here I thought the distinction of where I was saying I was from should have been more clear - I guess not.


The next time my story had to be explained was visiting the village of San Francisco for the first time. As we passed through the small town our boss introduced us to many of the people in the community. Each time as she said I was from Canada, she gave the extra explanation of where my parents were from. As soon as that happened each person seemed have the "ah haaaa" or "okay I get it now" look on their faces. I have also found out that one of the ladies in town now refers to me as the "morena" one - which means the tanned one, I think. 


Either way, in my case, I think people have just been more curious about my skin colour rather than where I'm from. It has really made me think about what I identify myself as. Its especially difficult since both of my parents are mixed, and two of my grandparents are also mixed. With nine or more countries floating around in my recent background I usually have a hard time explaining to people "where I'm from". However, what I find cool about all of this is that regardless of the colour of my skin, explaining that I am from Canada really shows those I've met while travelling how diverse Canadians can be.