The organisation
Tortugas Preciosas de Osa is a non-profit program dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles on the Osa peninsula.
ABOUT US
Our program is dedicated to understanding, evaluating and monitoring the population status, behavior, predation, and success of sea turtles that nest in the Osa Peninsula for their protection and conservation.
We achieve these goals by collaborating with local people, community groups, and visitors, who help us conduct sea turtle patrols, deter poachers, generate ecological information, as well as establish and maintain our hatchery.
Our mission is to integrate research and protection of sea turtles, while collaborating and providing education to local communities; ultimately promoting the conservation of these critically endangered marine species.
Below are the results of the first year of work 2019 – 2020, hoping to have many more in the future.
LESSONS LEARNED
During this first year of work, Tortugas Preciosas de Osa has generated a baseline of ecological information of the three species of sea turtles that nest in the area. This will be of great importance for monitoring the populations of these species and for decision-making for their conservation from now on.
By bridging communities, volunteer groups, ecolodges, educational institutions, and private companies in the area with this scientifically-based conservation effort, we are generating increased environmental awareness which serves the economic, social, and spiritual development of this region.
In this first year of work, the theft of nests and the predation by animals in Playa Preciosa decreased by more than 60%, so that at least 150 nests were rescued from being stolen or preyed upon. In addition to constant monitoring, this made it possible to ensure the birth and release of more than 21 thousand babies. These unprecedented numbers would not have been possible without
the work of our team, partners, volunteers and friends who have contributed tremendously in this great work.
Tortugas Preciosas de Osa has emerged as a “green classroom”, where anyone has access to a space for environmental education, natural history learning, volunteering and active work for the conservation of our most threatened species of sea turtles.
OUR NEXT GOALS
The sea turtles of the Osa Peninsula need our constant help to counteract the adversities caused by human actions that threaten their survival.
As a first objective, we will focus on increasing our area of monitoring, research and protection to adjoining beaches that currently do not have any conservation assessment or protection.
Thus, in the second year, we will be working additionally on Colorada, Guanábana and Tamales beaches, adding 8 more kilometers of protection to important nesting beaches.
We will also start tagging adult individuals that nest on all the beaches that comprise our study sites, for monitoring site fidelity and dispersal.
We will carry out health assessments to determine the conditions in which nesting females are found regarding to possible diseases.
Finally, we will begin with studies of habitat use and movement of hawksbill turtles using satellite technology and analysis of landscape ecology.