Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest

Posted by Kevin Peterson · October 10, 2015 5:05 AM

We are a group of locals with different backgrounds working together to conserve the local sea turtle population. Phoebe Edge M.Sc. is the biologist leading the operations in Carate. The project relies heavily on the assistance of volunteers, locals and visitors alike.  Four locals are hired as full-time hatchery managers and patrollers for four months of the year. These managers are given great responsibility with day to day management, leading patrols, and training volunteers. The four months in which they are hired is our peak sea turtle nesting season. Having four staff members  helps to ensure more consistency in our data recording and other methods of operation.

The long term goal of our project is to increase the population of sea turtles through nest protection, nest monitoring, and education. As those basic needs of the project are met we hope to have the means to expand our work and studies. Starting last fall we began using PIT technology that will allow us to keep track of the turtles nesting on our beaches each year. In the next years, we are hoping to see a steady increase in the sea turtles nesting on our beaches due to our efforts to reduce the impacts of poaching and predation. With growth of our project we hope to hire more staff members to support Phoebe and the existing employees. We would like to hire an educator/volunteer coordinator as well as another biologist to assist with research. At the moment we rely heavily on volunteer organizations for patrols and in the future we would like our staff to be covering the majority of shifts with volunteers there for aid. The legacy we have already began in this community has shifted the conservation values perceived by locals. In an area where poaching and predation was posing a serious threat to sea turtles we now see higher nesting numbers and a joint effort from all to keep the nests safe.

EPS Osa: Carate Project Needs

EPS project partner, COTORCO, is funded solely through grants and donations. EPS Osa seeks to provide a sustainable support mechanism to expand the scope of the program on a year round basis.  While the COTORCO project is also volunteer oriented, hatchery maintenance, equipment, and employee salaries are necessary expenses for the success of the project. For consistency of data and methods as well as safety during night patrols four locals are on staff.  The nature of our location requires us to have gear that can support heavy rain, moisture, sunshine, and bugs. Due to the destructive nature of the rainforest/ocean and limited funding, it is necessary for our association to continuously be seeking out funding for our project. Sea turtle research requires special gear and materials to combat the wear and tear of the elements. COTORCO is a community-based project that has a small staff of 4 with the support of volunteer organizations.

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There are many ways to get involved in The Osa EPS team.  For every action you take to support the program, you will receive reward points that can be 

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Adopt a Turtle Nest - Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest at the Carate Cotorco/EPS Sea Turtle Hatchery

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The Eco Preservation Society is partnering with COTORCO, a community conservation group in Carate, Costa Rica.  The COTORCO sea turtle conservation project is managed by a British Biologist, Phoebe Edge.  Through Phoebe's tireless efforts the program has flourished as a community run effort.  The Eco Preservation Society seeks to support the community efforts by providing salaries for key personal running the project and to raise revenues vital equipment for the program.   You are invited to Join the EPS Osa team and support the work of Phoebe and the entire COTORCO team.

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Centenial Equipment Contributed $12,000 to EPS Osa and the Sea Turtle Conservation Program in Carate, Osa, Costa Rica

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