Turtles in the Pacific

Coast of Costa Rica

By Samantha Yang

Why turtles are important to Costa

Rica

The turtle population in Costa Rica has been declining and Costa Rica
wants to help preserve them. There are multiple reasons why:

Climate change

Boat traffic

Fishing gear

Humans harvesting their eggs

These are just some of the many reasons why they are declining.

Four main types of turtles in Costa

Rica

Leatherback

Pacific Green

Olive Ridley

Hawksbill

Leatherback Sea Turtle

The leatherback sea turtle population has declined by over 90% since
1980.

You can find leatherback sea turtle in Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas, and
Playa Langosta all along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

Fun facts about leatherback sea turtles:

They lay about 80 rounds of eggs and they will do this about 12 times
throughout a season

The eggs will hatch after approximately 2 months

After hactching the turtles never come back to land, unless they are a female
and they are coming onto land to hatch their eggs.

Green Turtle

The green turtle population came close to extinction in the 1960s, it was
said that when the females came to land to hatch their eggs they would
be taken to the market for turtle soup.

Tortuguero National Park is a very popular place for the Green turtles.

In 1970 Tortuguero National Park was created to help preserce and

protext the turtles.

Fun facts:

Hatch about 110 eggs per hatching

Has the largest nesting colony

Olive Ridley Turtle

Humans destroy approximately 80% of their nests.

The most popular nesting beach is Ostional.

The turtles are protected through the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge

Fun facts:

Lay about 110 eggs per nest

They are the smallest of the species

They eat shrimp!

Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill turtle is pretty small as well, it barely exceed pass two and a
half feet in length.

Hawksbills shell is quite unique, therefore many people capture them

and sell their shells to tourists and other people.

They prefer to nest in small beaches that is surrounded by rocky

outcrops.

Fun facts

They lay about 155 eggs per nest

The name comes from the mouth of the turtle, which looks like a hawks bill

You rarely see them swimming near coral reefs

References

"Costa Rican Sea Turtles." Costa Rican Sea Turtles. N.p., n.d. Web. 11
Feb. 2015.

Quiros, Anny C., and Leslie A. Toit. "Ridley and Friends Turtles of Costa
Rica." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

"Tortuguero Experts." Sea Turtles in Tortuguero Costa Rica, a Turtle

Haven ! N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.