Jalova Monthly Achievement Report June 2016

Start of Green Turtle Season in Jalova & interesting sightings around

Objective
As partners with the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), one of GVIs long-term goals is to monitor
the nesting of four turtle species: Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead (Caretta
caretta) turtles in order to observe the efficiency of conservation efforts made to protect the
populations of these turtles.
Summary
The beach at Tortuguero has been
a nesting point for Green,
Leatherback,
Hawksbill,
and
Loggerhead turtles for centuries,
Greens being the most common,
followed
by
Leatherbacks,
Hawksbill and Loggerheads. After
a long period of turtle exploitation
for meat, the economy at
Tortuguero has switched from
being poaching-based to a more
sustainable eco-tourism base,
turning poaching into a highly
illegal activity. In order to assess
the efficiency of this conservation effort in protecting the populations of the turtles nesting at
Tortuguero National Park, in a tight partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), GVI
Jalova conducts night surveys termed as nights walks in order to record any and all turtle
sightings as they come up on the beach to lay. Once a turtle exits the sea to come up on the
beach, it may choose to start digging an egg chamber or decide that the sight is not suitable for
laying eggs. During night walks, volunteers walk on the beach in order locate these turtles and
tag them with a unique number so that the information may be added to the ever-growing
database. If a turtle is spotted digging her egg chamber and eggs can be counted, staff and
volunteers will triangulate the nest so that hatching success may be calculated. Volunteers get
to participate in a unique experience by having the chance to count the eggs that are laid by
the turtle themselves. With the beginning of June came the start of the Green turtle season
which will be monitored for number of nests and hatching success all through June to
November.

Report
Number of volunteers to participate
Participating on night walks requires courage as the weather on the beach may vary a lot at
night. With the high tide bringing in big waves that come crashing into the walkers legs,
sometimes knocking them down, the walk is a challenging but very rewarding experience. No
volunteer can argue the fact that observing and coming into contact with such prehistoric
creatures as turtles is a moment of pure bliss and awe. During the month of June, as many as
18 volunteers participated in 19 night walks, thus blessing GVI and the STC with valuable
contributions.
Number of turtles worked and nests marked
Thanks to the contributions of the
volunteers at the GVI Jalova base, 2 Green,
2 Hawksbill, and 2 Leatherback turtle nests
were marked, triangulated and eggs were
counted in order to further monitor the
hatching success. Also, 3 individuals from
each of the three species observed were
marked with new tags and added to the
database. Being able to work and count the
eggs of such variety of sea turtles is a
chance that not many people have had and
all volunteers came walking back to base at
night with excitement in their eyes to last a
lifetime.

Uncommon species observed around Jalova base

Apart from the start of the Green turtle season, a few uncommon species were observed by
our volunteers and staff. As the GVI Jalova base is surrounded by a coconut plantation,
volunteers get to observe animals that utilize this unique habitat in the Tortuguero National
Park. One relatively rare animal in the lowlands of Costa Rica that was observed more than
once by several volunteers was the Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata). As the coconut
plantation harbors small fish, frogs and tadpoles in its swampy areas, the Muscovy Duck enjoy
the cleared area for hunting their prey. As ducks are not common in the Caribbean lowlands,
the passionate volunteers got to enjoy a long and clear view of this magnificent bird.
The swampy areas found in the coconut plantation are home to many species of frogs which
can be observed mostly by night. Volunteers were brought to these areas to try to locate and
identify the frogs present. One particular species of frogs that caught the volunteers attention
was the Boulengers Snouted Treefrog (Scinax boulengeri). This frog is characterized by having
a long, slightly upturned snout covered in tube-like projections called tubercles.
Almost every day, volunteers and staff had to raise their heads to the sky as they heard the
unmistakable call of the Great Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus). Immediately, excitement rose
around the base as everyone gathered to observe a portion of the 300 individuals left in Costa
Rica fly over base and even at times, land in trees to flash their beautiful colors, creating
memories that all will cherish for a lifetime as this species runs the risk of going extinct.

Allen Bush-Beaupre- Volunteer Field Staff