Happy Labor Day Weekend to everyone in the States! I hope you are having fun in the sun, eating good food, and enjoying every moment with family and friends!
It has been a bit since I blogged last, settling in after our trip to the States in July, girls are back at school, and life continues. I wanted to share a very special trip we took at the beginning of August. It was amazing, heartbreaking, and a definite "please put on your bucket list" sort of trip.
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| The road leading to Ostinal Beach Costa Rica |
We went to Ostinal Beach Costa Rica to see the Oliver Ridley Turtles come in to nest. This is what is called an arribadas. It lasts about 3 to 4 days as the turtles come on to the beach to lay their eggs. It took about 2.5 hours to get there from Coco Beach, south.
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| The locals sorting turtle eggs |
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| After they are sorted and counted, the eggs are taken to the ocean and washed. This stops the growing of the embryo. |
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| The beach, it look a bit like a killing ground. |
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| The turtles arriving at sunset. |
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| Oliver Ridley Turtle laying eggs. |
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| More girls coming onto the beach. |
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| Looking for the perfect nesting spot. |
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| Sam was none too happy about this situation. |
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| Hannah, walking one of many tired turtles back to the sea. |
We arrived before sunset and the turtles were already coming in. Not what I (we) expected. There were so many people on the beach counting turtle eggs, putting them in bags, and then washing them in the ocean. My first thought was to scream STOP!!! What is going on here?
Thank goodness for our guide. She is amazing and very knowledgeable. Amy (our guides name). Turtle eggs are a delicacy for Costa Ricans. They are allowed the first day of nesting to gather eggs and a limited amount. There are government officials everywhere watching and counting. We were told, the first laying of the eggs will not survive, since other turtles will come and dig a nest on top of another nest. And once those eggs touch, they will die. Ok, this is making a bit more sense???
ADIO is the organization that allows Costa Ricans to pick the first eggs that are laid. The money in turn is used to help the turtles. The survival rate of baby turtles has gone from 2% to 9% in the last 10 years. I will take that as an improvement!
There are guards that walk the beach at night, and during the hatching, local women come out and scare away the dogs, vultures, and I am sure humans so the babies can return to the sea.
Another huge adventure and lesson of the culture we have chosen to be in! This is one for sure to put on your bucket list...every range of emotion will be felt. And to see Mother Nature at her best!
Pura Vida!
http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/08/23/costa-ricas-playa-ostional-a-community-that-lives-for-sea-turtles Please follow this link for the full article!
