Nesting of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) on Tortuguero Beach, Costa Rica

Lewis, Todd R.

Abstract

Tortuguero is located on the north eastern shores of Costa Rica. It is the largest and most important Atlantic nesting-site of the endangered Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Western Hemisphere. It is also a rookery for Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Tortuguero's population of 450 was first settled in the 1920s. It was established as a National Park in the 1970's with help from the non-profit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC), offering vital protection of the nesting beach and its wildlife. The park includes over 19,000 hectares (46,900 acres) and protects 22 miles of nesting beach from the mouth of the Tortuguero River south to Parismina. The Park and the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge to the north combine with Tortuguero to form the largest remaining adjoining tract of lowland wet tropical forest on Costa Rica's Atlantic coast.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2003
• Deposit Date: Sep 23, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 26, 2023
• Journal: The Natterjack
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 100/101
• Pages: 3-7
• Keywords: Sea turtle, nesting, reproduction, tropical, Costa Rica
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10003931
• Related Public URLs: https://www.thebhs.org/publications/the-natterjack