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.